Variation to the Primary Principals’ (NZEI) Collective Agreement#

Category: Employment Relations

This circular is about the recent variation of the Primary Principals’ (NZEI Te Riu Roa) Collective Agreement (PPCA-NZEI 2026-2028) and to the 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 the Ministry of Education's Employment Relations team if you have questions about the variation.

Email: [email protected]

All collective agreements for school staff can be found on our website.

People and employment

Action#

The action needed is to:

• note the main changes of the variation
• offer the new individual employment agreement (IEA) to new or existing principals who are not bound by a collective agreement.

Further information about agreement coverage will be available on the website.

Who is covered by the individual employment agreements

Summary#

On 25 March 2026, the NZEI Te Riu Roa collective agreement covering primary principals was varied. The term of the collective agreement remains unchanged and is from the 24 February 2026 to 23 August 2028.

The changes are:

• The introduction of a new clause in Appendix 3 Employment Relationship Problems which provides that for the term of the collective agreement, the limitations imposed by sections 67I and 113A of the Employment Relations Act 2000 on principals’ entitlements in relation to dismissals will not apply.
• Updates to the Curriculum Change allowance for those principals on Leave without Pay. The revised wording clarifies that principals returning from leave without pay after less than 6 months can apply for the allowance payment missed during their leave period. See clause 6.2.15.
• The freight allowance for Chatham and Pitt Island principals to be processed as a fortnightly payment (in line with current practice).

Individual Employment Agreements (IEAs)#

An individual employment agreement has been promulgated by the Secretary for Education, effective 13 April 2026.

Principals who previously signed the NZEI IEA, promulgated on 9 March 2026, would need to sign the new NZEI IEA to be covered by the terms of the varied collective agreement.

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 – GovHub

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]