Collective agreements

Access the current collective agreements and their relevant key dates.

The terms of an employment agreement must be adhered to.

These are the current collective agreements setting out the terms and conditions of employment for principals, teachers and other staff in schools.

• Find your collective agreement
• Minimum wage rate effective 1 April 2024
• Variations to collective agreements
• Collective agreement dates

Find your collective agreement

Collective agreements covering most employees in the state and state-integrated education sector are available below.

You can also access a PDF version once you've selected the link to your relevant collective agreement.

Teachers

Primary Teachers' Collective Agreement
Effective 3 July 2023 to 2 July 2025

Secondary Teachers' Collective Agreement
Effective 3 July 2022 to 2 July 2025

Area School Teachers' Collective Agreement
Effective 3 July 2023 to 2 July 2025

Kindergarten Teachers, Head Teachers and Senior Teachers' Collective Agreement
Effective 5 April 2023 to 4 April 2026

Te Aho o te Kura Pounamu Early Childhood Teachers' Collective Agreement
Effective 1 December 2022 to 2 July 2025

Principals

Primary Principals' (NZEI) Collective Agreement
Effective 3 July 2023 to 2 July 2025

Primary Principals' (PPCBU) Collective Agreement
Effective 1 December 2022 to 1 May 2025

Secondary Principals' Collective Agreement
Effective 1 December 2022 to 1 May 2025

Area School Principals' Collective Agreement
Effective 3 July 2023 to 2 July 2025

Other staff

Support Staff in Schools’ Collective Agreement
Effective 20 June 2022 to 19 December 2024

School Caretakers', Cleaners', Canteen and Ground Staff Collective Agreement
Effective 14 November 2022 to 13 November 2024

Kaiārahi i te Reo and Therapists' Collective Agreement
Effective 20 June 2022 to 19 December 2024

Specialist Residential Schools' Collective Agreement
Effective 11 December 2022 to 30 April 2025

Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu Specialist and Support Staff Collective Agreement
Effective 1 December 2022 to 1 December 2024

Community Education Collective Agreement
Effective 1 December 2022 to 27 February 2025

Minimum wage rate effective 1 April 2024

The minimum wage rate increased to $23.15 from 1 April 2024.

Anyone currently paid an hourly rate below the new minimum wage rate will automatically have their pay rate increased to $23.15 per hour from 1 April 2024.

Variations to collective agreements

There are several reasons why variations are made to collective agreements. Examples include: a pay equity claim settlement, a public sector pay adjustment (PSPA), or a variation in term. Variations will impact collective agreements in different ways. See below for additional information about the variation to the SSSCA and KRTCA resulting from a PSPA.

Variations to the Support Staff in Schools' and Kaiārahi i te Reo and Therapists' Collective Agreements

Collective agreement dates

The initiation date is the date the bargaining process can begin. The initiation date is the date the bargaining process can begin. Unions can initiate bargaining from 60 days before the collective agreement expires, while employers can initiate bargaining from 40 days before the collective agreement expires.

The start and expiry dates for a collective agreement are agreed by both parties in bargaining.

Employment Relations Act 2000 No 24 (as at 30 June 2024), Public Act 41 When bargaining may be initiated – New Zealand Legislation(external link)

Note about expiry dates

The expiry of a collective agreement does not necessarily mean the end of the agreement. 

Clause 53 of the Employment Relations Act 2000 says an expired collective agreement continues to be enforceable for a further 12 months, provided the union or the employer had, before the expiry date, initiated bargaining to replace the agreement.

Clause 53: Employment Relations Act 2000(external link)

Teachers and principals

Other staff in schools

Last reviewed: 04 September 2024 Has this been useful? Give us your feedback