Settlement of the Primary Principals’ (NZEI) Collective Agreement#

This circular is about the recent settlement of the Primary Principals’ (NZEI Te Riu Roa) Collective Agreement (PPCA-NZEI 2026-2028) 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 of all state and state-integrated primary schools.

For more information contact Te Whakarōpūtanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa | New Zealand School Boards Association (NZSBA formerly NZSTA) about human resource issues generally.

Phone: 0800 782 435

Email: [email protected]

You can also email our Employment Relations team 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 our website.

People and employment

The action needed is to:

• note the details of the settlement, including the new pay rates for principals covered by the collective agreement
• offer the new individual employment agreement (IEA) to principals who are not bound by a collective agreement once it is promulgated.

More information about agreement coverage will be available here once the IEA is promulgated.

Primary principals' collective and individual employment agreements

Introduction#

On 24 February 2026, the collective agreement covering primary principals was ratified.

The term of the agreement is 24 February 2026 to 23 August 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 our website.

Primary principals' collective and individual employment agreements

Key features of the settlement#

Remuneration#

This settlement provides both NZEI primary principals with an increase to their roll-based salary scale of 4.65% over the 30-month term of the collective agreement. This is comprised of a 2.5% increase from 24 February 2026 and a 2.1% increase 24 February 2027.

New rates will be effective from 24 February 2026 for employees who are NZEI members, or from the membership start date if they joined later than 24 February 2026.

Education Payroll Limited will pay these rates to employees covered by the collective agreement no later than pay period 04 on 26 May 2026 and will backpay to the employee’s effective date, as above.

School roll-based salary component and extension of the U-grade#

An extension of the U-grade scale was agreed for secondary principals (U17-U19) and has been included in this settlement as part of the unified pay system.

New pay rates are as follows:

Introduction of the curriculum change allowance#

NZEI primary principals will receive a curriculum change allowance of $15,000 to recognise the additional responsibilities arising from significant curriculum changes and reform during the term of the agreement.

For each of the following pay periods, principals will receive an allowance payment of $3,000:

• 4 March to 17 March 2026*
• 2 September to 15 September 2026
• 3 March to 16 March 2027
• 1 September to 14 September 2027
• 1 March to 14 March 2028.

*The first payment will be effective from the pay period however payment will be delayed and paid within the EPL implementation timeframe.

Increase to leadership in literacy and numeracy#

The base payment for leadership in literacy and numeracy will increase to $10,000 over the term of the agreement in recognition of the work principals do to lead the curriculum in schools, with particular focus on literacy and numeracy but also other curricula.

• From 28 January 2025: $8,000 per annum.
• From 24 February 2026: $9,700 per annum.
• From 28 January 2027: $9,800 per annum.
• From 28 January 2028: $10,000 per annum.

Amendment to primary principals’ career structure#

The career structure provisions have been amended to reflect the importance of developing leadership talent within and across schools.

In addition to this change, the career structure payment will increase with rates effective from 24 February 2026.

• Beginning principal: NIL.
• Developing principal (acquiring/acquired): $3,700.
• Experienced principal (applying): $6,900.
• Leading principal (sharing): $10,200.

Introduction of a principal mentor allowance#

Principals selected to be a mentor in the Aspiring and Beginning Principals’ Programme will be provided with an allowance of $5,000 per annum.

Mentoring of a provisionally certified teacher (PCT)#

Principals of U1 or U2 schools who mentor a PCT when no eligible teacher is available to fill the role will receive an allowance.

Amendments to Chatham and Pitt Island provisions#

Amendments to clause wording can be found in the collective agreement.

A summary of changes is as follows:

• Increase to the freight allowance to (which will be based on actual costs):
  • basic rate $5,000
  • partner rate $9,000
  • additional freight allowance for child/dependent of $1,500.
• Introduction of the Chatham and Pitt Islands to the isolation allowance in Appendix 1. The isolation allowance for Chatham and Pitt Island principals will be $2,500 per annum and replaces the previous Chatham Islands allowance.
• The qualifying period to access to return flights for professional development purposes reduced to 6 months.
• Subsidised leave trips updated to be taken any time within the school year.
• Removal expenses covered after 5 years of continuous service at Chatham/Pitt Island schools (where the principal is not already eligible under Appendix 2: Removal expenses).
• Storage cost provision updated to be reasonable storage costs.
• Apply the modernised clause wording drafted and agreed within the Chatham and Pitt Islands Working Group.
• Eligibility extended to principals recruited locally.
• Clause wording changes to modernise and clarify provisions.

Other terms#

Amendment will be made to provisions relating to disregarded sick leave to revise and clarify the scope of the provision.

The unified pay system is agreed for the term of the agreement to provide a mechanism to maintain a unified pay system for principals in the state and state integrated compulsory education sector.

The agreement will recognise previous service in a converted school for employees transferred to a charter school under clause 119, Schedule 1 of the Education and Training Act 2020, provided service has been continuous.

The renewed Primary Principal (NZEI Te Riu Roa) Collective Agreement 2026- 2028 is available here.

Primary principals' collective and individual employment agreements

Individual employment agreements#

An individual employment agreement (IEA) will be promulgated by the Secretary for Education by 16 March 2026.

For employees who are not NZEI 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.

For employees covered by an IEA, Education Payroll Limited will pay the new rates as soon as is practicable 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:

Help for principals – NZSBA

Issued by#

Tim Tucker
Manager – Employment Relations and Payroll Operations
Te Pou Ohumahi Mātauranga | Education Workforce

National Office
1 The Terrace
PO Box 1666, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
Phone: 04 463 8000
Fax: 04 463 8001
Email: [email protected]