About the claim#

The Therapists' Pay Equity Claim covers therapists employed by us and school boards. The pay equity claim settlement corrects past undervaluation of the work done by this mainly female workforce.

Actions for schools and kura#

If you employ therapists at your school, read the implementation guide below. There are steps you need to take to make sure your covered employees receive the benefits and new pay rates resulting from the settlement.

This information is for school board-employed therapists only.

Webinars#

Together with Whakarōputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa (formerly New Zealand School Trustees Association), we'll be hosting 2 live implementation webinars in Term 3 2024. These sessions for principals and school administrators will explain the practical steps they need to take for the claim settlement.

Our Ohumahi Support team will let schools and kura know when the webinar dates will be and how to attend.

Payment for former employees#

Former employees covered by the claim settlement, who left employment on or after 22 July 2024, will automatically receive backdated pay equity payments in October 2024. No action is required of these employees.

Former employees who worked after 25 May 2023 and left before 22 July 2024 need to apply for any backdated pay equity payments they are owed.

Contact us for more information and instructions on how to apply.

As the pay equity rates came into effect from 25 May 2023, employees who finished work before this date are not eligible to apply.

Pay equity reviews#

The Ministry and NZEI Te Riu Roa will review remuneration to make sure that pay equity is maintained. The review will be aligned with collective bargaining of the relevant collective agreements. Each review will cover all employees who are covered by the settlement agreement. The review clause is available in the Therapists’ Pay Equity Claim Settlement Agreement.

If you are interested in the review process, contact us for further information.

Email: [email protected]

Settlement documents#

To see a summary of our research that identified sex-based undervaluation for this workforce, download and read the evidence report. The settlement agreement is also available to read.

Ministry-employed therapists#

This information is for school board-employed therapists only. For information for Ministry-employed therapists, see the Therapists section of the Ministry Pay Equity Claims page on Te Tāhuhu.

Contact us#

If you need more information about the pay equity claim, contact us.

Email: [email protected]

Freephone (NZ only): 0800 114 117

Pay equity newsletter#

Subscribe to our pay equity newsletter for regular updates.

Pay equity newsletter