Date 2 December 2025 | Circular 2025/05 | Category Employment Relations
This circular is about the recent settlement of the Community Education Collective Agreement (CECA 2025-2028) – and information on the applicable promulgated individual employment agreement.
This circular does not replace any other.
It is intended for presiding members of School Boards and principals of all state and state-integrated primary, area and secondary schools, who employ staff in the provision of an Adult and Community Education (ACE) programme or Out of Hours Music and Arts (OOHMA) programme.
For more information contact Te Whakarōpūtanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa | New Zealand School Boards Association (NZSBA formerly NZSTA) about human resource issues.
Phone: 0800 782 435
Email: [email protected]
You can also email the Ministry of Education's Employment Relations Unit if you have questions about the settlement or the new collective agreement,
Email: [email protected]
All collective agreements for school staff can be found on the Ministry's website.
The action needed is to:
- note the details of the settlement, including the new pay rates for people employed in roles covered by the collective agreement
- offer the new individual employment agreement (IEA) to existing employees who are not PPTA members but are working in roles covered by this new agreement
- check that you are using the correct designation codes in payroll for your employees
- ensure you offer the new IEA to future CECA employees, should they choose not to be PPTA members and thus are not covered by the collective agreement
- update the offer of employment template letter that you are using for new employees to ensure this aligns with the new terms and conditions of the recently settled collective agreement (available from NZSBA).
Introduction#
On 28 November 2025, the collective agreement covering Community Education staff was signed by the NZPPTA Te Wehengarua and the Secretary for Education. The term of the agreement is 28 November 2025 to 27 January 2028.
This circular provides a summary of the changes and new provisions agreed as part of the settlement. The full collective agreement can be downloaded from the Ministry of Education’s website.
Key features of the settlement#
New pay rates have been agreed as follows.
Remuneration for Tutors#
| Step | Effective 1 December 2023 | Effective 26 November 2025 | Effective 26 November 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $35.52 | $36.23 | $36.88 |
| 2 | $46.52 | $47.45 | $48.30 |
Remuneration for Professional Supervisors#
| Step | Effective 1 December 2023 | Effective 26 November 2025 | Effective 26 November 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $52.34 | $53.39 | $54.35 |
To avoid confusion with other terms in the collective agreement, Grade 1, 2, and 3 Non-Teaching Coordinators will now be described as Level 1, 2, and 3 Non-Teaching Coordinators, translating to the work matrix grades as shown in the new payscale table.
Remuneration for Non-Teaching Coordinators#
Level 1 Non-Teaching Coordinator
| Work Matrix Grade | Step | Effective 1 December 2023 | Effective 26 November 2025 | Effective 26 November 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 8 | $31.41 | $32.01 | $32.41 |
| 4 | 9 | $32.27 | $32.87 | $33.27 |
| 4 | 10 | $33.15 | $33.75 | $34.15 |
| 4 | 11 | $34.03 | $34.63 | $35.03 |
| 4 | 12 | $34.93 | $35.53 | $35.93 |
| 4 | 13 | $35.85 | $36.45 | $36.85 |
Level 2 Non-Teaching Coordinator
| Effective 1 December 2023 | Effective 26 November 2025 | Effective 26 November 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| $36.27* | $37.00 | $37.66 |
*Rate unchanged by the application of the Administration Pay Equity Claim Settlement.
Level 3 Non-Teaching Coordinators
| Work Matrix Grade | Step | Effective 1 December 2023 | Effective 26 November 2025 | Effective 26 November 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | $87,973 | $89,221 | $90,053 |
| 5 | 6 | $90,651 | $91,899 | $92,731 |
| 5 | 7 | $93,334 | $94,582 | $95,414 |
| 6 | 1 | $95,408 | $96,656 | $97,488 |
| 6 | 2 | $97,485 | $98,733 | $99,565 |
| 6 | 3 | $99,542 | $100,790 | $101,622 |
| 6 | 4 | $101,621 | $102,869 | $103,701 |
Remuneration for Coordinator Assistants#
| Work Matrix Grade | Step | Effective 1 December 2023 | Effective 26 November 2025 | Effective 26 November 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 4 | $28.89 | $29.49 | $29.89 |
| 3 | 5 | $29.52 | $30.12 | $30.52 |
| 3 | 6 | $30.15 | $30.75 | $31.15 |
| 3 | 7 | $30.78 | $31.38 | $31.78 |
| 3 | 8 | $31.41 | $32.01 | $32.41 |
| 4 | 9 | $32.27 | $32.87 | $33.27 |
| 4 | 10 | $33.15 | $33.75 | $34.15 |
| 4 | 11 | $34.03 | $34.63 | $35.03 |
| 4 | 12 | $34.93 | $35.53 | $35.93 |
| 4 | 13 | $35.85 | $36.45 | $36.85 |
The settlement provides pay rate increases to all staff, depending on their role and current pay scale step. Tutors, Professional Supervisors and Non-Teaching Coordinators Level 2 will receive an increase of 3.8% over the term of this agreement. Non-Teaching Coordinators Level 1 and Level 3 and Coordinator Assistants will have access to pay progression and additional rate increases ranging from 2% - 3.5% over the term of this agreement.
The new rates will be effective from 26 November 2025 for employees who are PPTA members, or from the membership join date if they joined later than 28 November (the date the collective was signed).
An individual employment agreement will be promulgated by the Secretary for Education by 5 December 2025. For employees who are not PPTA members, the new rates will be effective from the date the employee and employer sign the IEA. This cannot be before the date the IEA was promulgated.
The settlement also applies the Administration Support Staff in Schools Pay Equity Claim (APEC) Settlement, which covers Non-Teaching Coordinators and Coordinator Assistants. The alignment to these pay scales will apply pay corrections from 20 August 2021, or the date of employment, whichever is the later.
These changes will be implemented in phases. The collective agreement changes will be applied on 17 February 2026. The progression increments and re-calculation of allowances will be paid by 28 April 2026, and holiday pay together with termination pay processed by 12 May 2026.
Non-teaching Coordinators and Coordinator Assistants need to sign the promulgated IEA to receive the Administration Support Staff Pay Equity Claim Settlement. The alignment to these pay scales will apply from 20 August 2021, or the date of employment, whichever is the later.
The Ministry will publish guidance on the implementation for schools and employees to understand these changes.
If you require further information on the APEC settlement for Non-Teaching Coordinators and Coordinator Assistants, reach out to:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0800 114 117
Increase to motor vehicle reimbursement#
The motor vehicle reimbursement rate has been increased to 83 cents per kilometre for motor vehicles and the addition of 20 cents per kilometre for mopeds, motorcycles and motor scooters.
Amendment to Application of Salary for OOHMA clause#
The collective agreement amends this provision to a step progression pathway for Out-of-Hours Music and Art (OOHMA) tutors to progress to Step 2 based on a Diploma of Teaching and 100 hours of music and arts tutoring experience with children.
Amendment to Health and Safety clause#
The collective agreement amends this provision to strengthen health and safety practices for programmes operating after normal school hours.
Clarification on reimbursements for course associated costs#
The clause relating to reimbursement of course associated costs has been amended to include printing materials, supplies and equipment as examples.
Introduction of a minimum termination notice period#
Introduce a minimum termination notice period of one month’s written notice to provide clarity to both employees and employers.
Introduction of a conduct and performance process#
Introduce new conduct and performance clauses to clarify good practice when employment issues related to conduct and performance arise.
Individual Employment Agreements (IEAs)#
The Secretary for Education will promulgate an IEA by the end of December 2025. For employees who are not PPTA members, the new rates will be effective from the date the employee and employer sign the IEA. This cannot be before the date the IEA was promulgated. Education Payroll Limited will pay the new rates once advised that the new IEA has been signed.
Ensure you are using the most up-to-date letter of offer of employment for new employees, available on the NZSBA’s website.
Issued by Tim Tucker, Manager, Employment Relations and Payroll Operations, Te Pou Ohumahi Mātauranga | Education Workforce
Ministry of Education, National Office, 1 The Terrace, Wellington 6011, PO Box 1666, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
Phone: 04 463 8000
Email: [email protected]
