Kindergarten Teachers, Head Teachers and Senior Teachers' Collective Agreement

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Part Three: Remuneration

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

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  • 3.1 Salary Scales
      1. Subject to 3.2, the following salary rates apply:
        1. K1 - Base-scale Teachers
          Step Qual
          Group
          Rates
          prior to
          1 Dec
          2022
          Rates
          effective
          1 Dec
          2022
          Qual
          Group
          Step Rates
          effective
          3 July
          2023
          Rates
          effective
          1 Dec
          2023
          Rates
          effective
          3 April
          2024
          Rates
          effective
          2 Dec
          2024
          1 P3E  $51,358 $55,358 P3E 1 $56,757 $57,358 $59,027 $61,329
          2   $53,544 $57,544
          3 P3+E $55,948 $59,948 P3+E 2 $59,948 $61,948 $61,948 $64,083
          4 P4E $58,133 $62,133 P4E 3 $62,133 $64,133 $64,133 $66,586
          5 P5E $61,794 $65,794 PE5 4 $65,794 $67,794 $68,122 $70,779
          6   $65,776 $69,776   5 $69,776  $71,869 $72,512 $75,340
          7   $70,040 $74,040   6 $74,243  $76,261 $77,213 $80,224
          8   $75,190 $79,190   7 $79,702  $81,566 $82,890 $86,123
          9   $79,413 $83,413   8 $84,178  $85,915 $87,545 $90,960
          10 P3M $85,490 $89,490 P3M 9 $90,620 $92,175 $94,245 $97,920
          11 P3+M, P4M, P5M  $90,000 $94,000 P3+M, P4M, P5M 10 $95,400 $96,820 $99,216 $103,086

          Note: Teachers employed on step 2 at any time between 3 July 2023 and 10 December 2023 will be paid an equalisation allowance. This equalisation allowance is based on the difference between the employee's pay rate prior to this variation ($57,544 from 3 July 2023 / $59,544 from 1 December 2023) and the rate of the new merged step 1 under this variation ($56,757 from 3 July 2023 / $57,358 from 1 December 2023 / $59,027 from 3 April 2024).

          This equalisation allowance will be considered part of the affected employee's base salary. The equalisation allowance is payable from 3 July 2023 but will no longer be payable from the earlier of the following two dates:
          (i)  The date when the employee becomes entitled to be paid on a higher salary step under the terms of this agreement; or
          (ii)  2 December 2024.

          For example, for a teacher currently paid on step 2, with an anniversary date of 24 February, the translation would be as follows:

            Before 
          Variation
          3 July 2023 1 Dec 2023 24 Feb 2024 3 April 2024 2 Dec 2024 24 Feb 2024
            Step 2 Step 1 Step 1 Step 2 Step 2 Step 2 Step 3
          Base salary $57,444 $56,757 $57,358 61,948 $61,948 $64,083 $66,586
          Allowance   $787 $2,186        
          Total Salary   $57,544 $59,544        
          The parties agree to remove this note and example in future agreements.

        2. K2 - Head Teachers
          A relieving Head Teacher who is employed for a period of less than 10 weeks, including teachers in acting positions, will be entitled to the K2R rate as below (pro-rated for part-time Head Teachers).
          - Rates prior to
          1 Dec 2022
          Rate effective
          1 Dec 2022
          Rate effective
          3 July 2023
          Rate effective
          1 Dec 2023
          Rate effective
          3 April 2024
          Rate effective
          2 Dec 2024
          KR2 $92,175 $96,175 $97,648 $99,120 $101,622 $105,664
          A permanent or relieving (employed for a continuous period of at least ten weeks when a kindergarten is open for instruction) Head Teacher (as defined in clause 1.6.d) shall be entitled to the K2 salary rate as below (pro-rated for part-time Head Teachers).
          - Rates prior to
          1 Dec 2022
          Rate effective
          1 Dec 2022
          Rate effective
          3 July 2023
          Rate effective
          1 Dec 2023
          Rate effective
          3 April 2024
          Rate effective
          2 Dec 2024
          KR2 $94,175 $98,175 $99,648 $101,120 $103,622 $107,664
          If a relieving Head Teacher who has been paid on the K2R rate has their employment extended such that they work in that role for a continuous period of more than 9 weeks when a Kindergarten is open for instruction, they will be entitled to move to the K2 rate for the tenth and subsequent weeks of the appointment.
  • 3.2 Unified Base Salary Scale
      1. The purpose of this clause is to maintain a Unified Base Salary Scale for all teachers in the state and state integrated education sector.
      2. The intention of this clause is to enable changes to the rates in the base salary scale or any payments made across-the-board, together with the attached conditions, in any collective agreement applicable to primary teachers in the state and state integrated school sector to apply to kindergarten teachers employed by kindergarten associations.
      3. Mechanism
        1. The Secretary for Education shall, within one month of ratification of the Primary Teachers’ Collective Agreement (or relevant variation thereof), notify the NZEI Te Riu Roa National Secretary of any changes to the base salary scale and offer such changes to teachers covered by the KTCA.
        2. The National Secretary of NZEI Te Riu Roa shall, within one month of receipt of the offer described in clause 3.2.3(a), advise the Secretary for Education whether NZEI Te Riu Roa wishes to accept such offer. The parties agree that upon receipt of NZEI's acceptance of the offer the KTCA shall be deemed to be varied pursuant to clause 1.5 in the terms outlined in the offer as advised by the Secretary for Education.
      4. The teachers and the Associations will be notified of any changes in the KTCA made pursuant to clause 3.2.3.
      5. Clause 3.2 shall apply from 5 April 2023 to 4 April 2026. Thereafter this clause will cease to apply and shall have no effect.
      6. For clarity, reference to teachers in this clause means trained teachers i.e. teachers who hold a current practicing certificate.
      7. Where the top of the kindergarten teachers’ base salary scale increases as a result of the operation of these provisions, the salary rate of head teachers and senior teachers shall be increased by the same percentage amount (in the case of a percentage increase) or by the same dollar amount (in the case of a dollar amount increase); or by the weighted average increase across the base salary scale, whichever is the greater.
  • 3.3 Salary on appointment
      1. Salary on Appointment
        1. On appointment, a teacher shall be paid on the appropriate salary scale and step having regard to:
          1. the applicable qualification group classification as per clause 3.3.2 and
          2. any service recognised for salary purposes as per 3.3.3 and
          3. any previous relevant work experience as per 3.3.4.
        2. On reappointment, a teacher shall be paid on the appropriate salary scale and step having regard of any:
          1. kindergarten teaching service and salary credits that has previously recognised by a kindergarten association, and
          2. the qualification group classification at the time of reappointment, and
          3. any service during the period away from kindergarten teaching service that may be recognised for salary purposes as per 3.3.3 and 3.3.4.
        3. A teacher who has completed training and has no service recognised for salary purposes shall be paid a salary during the first year of service at the first step of the relevant qualification grouping.
        4. A base scale teacher who, on appointment holds a qualification classified as P4 or P5 (as denoted in 3.3.2 below) shall commence at step six or step seven respectively of the teachers’ base salary scale. 
      2. Qualification Groups
        1. An employee placed on the salary scale shall be certificated and hold a teaching qualification.
        2. Employees are assessed on the highest qualification held.
        3. New Zealand qualifications that are registered on the National Qualifications Framework shall be recognised for salary purposes.
        4. Overseas qualifications are assessed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority to the nearest New Zealand equivalent qualifications.
        5. From 3 July 2023, the Qualification Group Notations for the base salary scale entry points (E) and base scale maximum points (M) for each qualification group defined below:
          P3 for teachers who hold a current practicing certificate issued by the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand but no subject or specialist qualification at level 7 or above on the NZQF, or equivalent overseas teaching qualifications recognised by the NZQA.
          Note: also includes teachers previously placed in P1 or P2 qualification groups.
          P3+ for teachers who hold a current practicing certificate issued by the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand and:
          • a subject or specialist level 7 qualification on the NZQF (i.e. not an initial teacher education qualification) which can be a Diploma (excluding a National Diploma), Graduate Diploma or Degree; or
          • an initial teacher education qualification at level 8 on the NZQF; or
          • equivalent overseas qualifications recognised by the NZQA or an overseas qualification where NZQA has determined that the qualification has level 7 (graduate) study in a subject or specialist area(s) i.e. any area of study that is not initial teacher education.
          • Where the highest trade or vocational qualification is below Level 7 on the NZQF, the following trade or vocational qualification s(or its equivalent at 5 or 6 on the National Qualifications Framework)
            • NZ Certificate in Building, Engineering, Quantity Surveying or Draughting
            • Advanced Trade Certificate
            • Advanced Technical Trade Certificate
              shall be recognised for P3+ if the teacher has at least 6000 hours of applicable trade or vocational work experience.
          P4 for teachers who hold a current practicing certificate issued by the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand and:
          • a subject or specialist level 8 qualification on the NZQF which can be an honours degree or a Post Graduate Diploma; or
          • two subject or specialist level 7 qualifications on the NZQF (as listed above); or
          • initial teacher education qualification at level 9 on the NZQA; or
          • equivalent overseas qualifications recognised by the NZQA.
          P5 for teachers who hold a current practicing certificate issued by the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand and:
          • a subject or specialist level 9 qualification on the NZQF - masters or doctorate; or
          • equivalent overseas qualifications recognised by the NZQA.
      3. Service Recognition
        1. Service within New Zealand as a trained early childhood teacher in a teaching capacity in a licensed early childhood centre or the Early Childhood Service of Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (The Correspondence School) shall be recognised for salary purposes.
        2. Service within New Zealand as a Head or Senior Teacher in a kindergarten shall be recognised for salary purposes.
        3. Service as a qualified certificated teacher employed in a teaching position within a New Zealand state or state integrated school (including Kaupapa Māori education) shall be recognised for salary purposes. 
        4. Service of qualified certificated relieving teachers employed continuously for six weeks or more in a New Zealand licensed early childhood centre or a state or state integrated school (including Kaupapa Māori) shall be recognised for salary purposes.
          Note: No teacher covered by this agreement on 5 February 2006 shall have their service recalculated as a result of the operation of this clause.
      4. Previous Relevant Work Experience
        1. In addition to service recognised under 3.3.3, the employer shall recognise previous paid work experience that is directly relevant to the teacher’s duties and responsibilities and which has occurred within 10 years of the application for credit, subject to the provisions of this clause.
        2. Any previous relevant paid work experience recognised under this clause shall be credited as half-service up to a maximum of two steps.  Half credit shall mean that each year (or part thereof) will count as six months (or part thereof) of service for salary purposes. A special case may be made by a teacher to the employer to have crediting of relevant paid work experience in excess of the maximum considered.
        3. Previous relevant paid work experience means professional employment using knowledge of the education service, and/or teaching skills including:
          • Voluntary Service Abroad - providing service was in a teaching position while the teacher held a teaching certificate;
          • Teacher education lecturers and community education tutors - providing service was in a teaching position while the teacher held a teaching certificate;
          • Kaiarahi i te Reo;
          • Teacher Aides / Kaiawhina;
          • Public sector employment with education focus, e.g., Ministry of Education, Early Childhood Development or other Crown Education Agencies;
          • Education officer in Government and non-Government organisations;
          • Special Education;
          • Social worker employed by DSW or Board of Trustees;
          • Professional officer of NZEI Te Riu Roa/PPTA/TTANZ;
          • Librarian;
          • Museum, Art Gallery, Zoo education officers;
          • Untrained employees in teaching positions in licensed early childhood education centres including kindergartens and nga kōhanga reo; and
          • Family day care co-ordinators in licensed home based early childhood education services.
        4. Application shall be made by the teacher as soon as practicable following appointment, but in any event within three months of their appointment. The teacher shall, at the time of application, provide evidence to the satisfaction of the employer of previous relevant paid work experience before any such service will be considered for recognition under this clause.
        5. Previous relevant paid work experience in a less than full-time position shall be credited, where recognised, as a proportion of full-time employment based on a 40 hour week.  Where service recognition is claimed for previous relevant paid work experience undertaken on a part-time basis, the evidence of such service must include details of the hours worked.
        6. No teacher covered by this agreement on 2 July 2002 shall have their service prior to this date recalculated as a result of the operation of this clause.
        7. Where a teacher who has previous relevant paid work experience recognised by one association commences work at another association, that teacher shall be entitled to retain that service credit unless subclause 4.h below applies.
        8. Prior to commencement at another association, where the employer considers that some or all of the previous relevant paid work experience is not relevant (in terms of clause 3.3.4) to the teacher’s duties the association shall advise the teacher, prior to the letter of offer.
  • 3.5 Improved Qualifications
      1. Teachers who improve their qualification(s) shall, on the effective date of improving the qualification(s), move to the step in the appropriate scale corresponding to their current salary rate in the lower scale.  Where their current salary rate is lower than the entry step for the new (improved) qualification group, they shall be placed on the applicable entry step. The effective date of improvement of qualification(s) to a higher group in this situation is:
          1. where qualifications are improved at the end of the academic year – the commencing date of the first term of the following year; or
          2. where qualifications are improved during an academic year – the date of official results.
      2. Teachers who have been on the top step of the salary scale for their qualification group for one or more years’ service for salary purposes and who subsequently improve their qualification(s) shall be entitled to progress one salary step in their new salary scale from the effective date of improving their qualification(s).  The effective date of improving qualification(s) to the higher salary group is the date of official notification from the relevant tertiary provider of achievement of the qualification.  This date shall become their new anniversary date for salary progression purposes.
      3. Teachers shall be entitled to progress annually to the top step of the new scale on their increment date providing they meet the requirements for progression.  No recalculation of service will occur because a teacher has improved their qualification(s).
  • 3.6 Salary Progression
      1. For the purposes of determining annual progression from one step to the next, each teacher’s performance will be assessed annually against the appropriate professional standards.
      2. When setting performance expectations and development objective(s) with individual teachers for the coming year, the appropriate professional standards against which the teacher is to be assessed should be confirmed between the teacher and the employer.
      3. For each teacher to progress annually to their next salary step they will need to demonstrate that they meet the appropriate professional standards.
  • 3.7 Deferred Progression
      1. Where a teacher has not met the appropriate professional standards throughout the assessment period the employer may defer salary progression.
      2. Where progression has been deferred, the employer shall determine a timeframe (in consultation with the teacher) within which the teacher shall have the opportunity to demonstrate the improved performance required to meet the appropriate standards.
      3. If it is agreed that the teacher has demonstrated within this timeframe that they are meeting the appropriate standards they will progress to the next step from the date of this second assessment.  This date will become the teacher’s new anniversary date for the purposes of pay progression.
      4. Where a teacher is unable to attain the standards within the specified timeframe, the teacher will be required to undergo competency procedures as set out in 6.3.
      5. Local review process
          1. Where a teacher disagrees with the employer’s decision to defer their salary increment under the provisions of 3.7 the teacher may, within 14 days of being notified of the deferral, seek a review of that decision by notifying the employer in writing.  The teacher may be represented during the process.
          2. A reviewer shall be a person nominated by the association and acceptable to the teacher.  The reviewer may be another staff member but should not be someone connected with the original decision to defer progression.  In the event that agreement cannot be reached on a reviewer within a reasonable time the employer shall determine who the reviewer will be.
          3. The reviewer will give the teacher and the employer fair opportunity to make representations.
          4. The reviewer shall make recommendations to the employer within 30 days of receiving the teacher’s application for review.
          5. The employer shall make a final decision within 14 days of receiving the recommendation.
          6. Where requested, the teacher shall have access to the information about him/herself provided to the employer by the reviewer.
          7. Nothing in this clause prevents the teacher from taking a personal grievance in accordance with Part 7 of this Agreement.

      Note: In cases of very small associations it may be necessary to develop a reciprocal arrangement with a neighbouring association.

  • 3.8 Payment of Salaries
      1. Method of Payment
          1. Salaries shall be paid fortnightly by direct credit to the employee’s nominated bank account.
      2. Calculation of Permanent Full-time, Permanent Part-time and Long-term Relieving Teachers’ Salary
          1. The fortnightly rate payable shall be equivalent to the annual salary divided by 26.071.
          2. The daily rate payable shall be equivalent to 1/10 of the fortnightly rate.
      3. Calculation of Part-time Teachers’ Salary
          1. A part-time teachers’s salary shall be paid at 1/40th of the applicable full-time weekly salary for each hour of work as defined as by the hours of work clause 1.6.h.
          2. On completion of 2080 hours of work, (the same numbers of hours as are worked by a full-time teacher in a year), a part-time employee shall be eligible to progress to the next step of the relevant salary scale.
      4. Long-term Relievers
          1. Long-term relieving teachers shall be paid according to the applicable salary scale and qualification group.
      5. Short-term Relievers
          1. a. Short-term relieving base scale teachers shall be paid a daily rate of 1/210th (inclusive of 12% holiday pay) of the appropriate annual salary, or an hourly rate of 1/8th of the daily rate (inclusive of 12% holiday pay). The rate payable shall take into account relevant qualifications and any previously recognised service, provided that the maximum daily rate does not exceed 1/210th of step 5 of the teachers' base scale salary or, from 28 January 2024 does not exceed step 6 of the teachers' scale.
          2. Assistance towards payment of travelling expenses may be granted at the employer's discretion.
      6. Notwithstanding 3.8.4 and 3.8.5, where a reliever is employed in a particular position as a short-term reliever but the employment lasts longer than six weeks, then the reliever shall, from the point at which employment exceeds this threshold, become a long-term reliever and shall receive the terms and conditions applicable to long-term relievers.  No recalculation or recovery of entitlements (including pay) shall occur because of such a change in status.
      7. Relievers
          1. A teacher employed in a relieving capacity for 12 months or more in a position for which the salary scale is higher than Scale K1 shall have that service recognised for salary purposes on appointment to a permanent position on the higher scale.
          2. A teacher who is employed in a relieving capacity in a position for which the salary scale is higher than Scale K1 shall be paid the rate which would be payable to the teacher if permanently appointed to that position, subject to the following conditions:
              1. the teacher must perform the extra duties and undertake the responsibilities of the higher position for a qualifying period of five consecutive working days on each occasion that the higher duties are performed;
              2. although not counting as part of the qualifying period, term breaks and leave do not interrupt the qualifying period if the teacher goes back to the higher position immediately after the term break or the leave.
  • 3.9 Leave Without Pay
      1. Where an employee has been granted leave without pay by the employer, the employer shall either:
          1. Deduct the leave without pay from the employee’s current pay period, or where it is not practicable to do so, the employer shall deduct the leave without pay from the employee’s next pay period; or
          2. Deduct the leave without pay from the employee’s subsequent pay periods in such a manner as may be agreed between the parties.
      2. Nothing in this clause shall prevent the employer from pursuing any other remedies available in law to recover outstanding amounts owed to the employer. The employer should, however, endeavour to ensure that the employee is not caused undue hardship as a result of any such recovery.
      3. Leave without pay will be debited on the basis of working days of absence.
      4. Leave without pay in excess of five working days shall reduce the period of paid teaching service accordingly for salary purposes. 
  • 3.10 Recovery of Overpayments
      1. It is the responsibility of both the employer and the employee to ensure that payments are correct.
      2. Where an overpayment does occur, the recovery of the overpayment shall be in a manner agreed between the employer and the employee concerned or, where the overpayment arose as a result of a previous period of employment, between the former employer and the employee concerned.
      3. Nothing in this clause shall prevent the employer from pursuing any other remedies available in law to recover overpayments. The employer should, however, endeavour to ensure that the employee is not caused undue hardship as a result of any such recovery.
  • 3.11 Tutor Teacher Allowance
      1. A tutor teacher is a fully certificated teacher who holds a current practicing certificate and is designated as being responsible for providing an advice and guidance programme to a provisionally certificated teacher working towards full registration.  The responsibilities of the tutor teacher include assisting the provisionally certificated teacher to meet the certification requirements.
      2. A tutor teacher allowance of $600 per annum is payable to a designated tutor teacher while they are responsible for a provisionally certificated teacher, or teachers, who are permanently employed or employed to fixed term positions of at least ten consecutive weeks provided that the total combined hours of the provisionally certificated teachers are at least 0.8.
      3. A tutor teacher may be responsible for tutoring more than one provisionally certificated teacher concurrently, but shall only receive one payment of the allowance.
      4. Only one teacher may be designated as being responsible for tutoring any provisionally certificated teacher at any one time.
      5. The designation of tutor teacher shall be for no more than one calendar year on each occasion.
      6. Where the provisionally certificated teacher is employed for part of a year, the allowance shall be paid to the tutor teacher for that part of the year only.
      7. Senior teachers are not entitled to the allowance.
      8. The tutor teacher and the provisionally certificated teacher engaged in the advice and guidance programme will receive paid release time.
  • 3.12 Cultural Leadership Allowance
      1. From the start of 2024, 100 recognition allowances, each of $5,000 per annum will be established. The allowance would recognise individual teachers’ leadership and expertise in Te Ao Māori and could be allocated to teachers, head teachers or senior teachers.
      2. These allowances will also help retain and further cultivate Māori specialist expertise, knowledge and cultural leadership that already exists in kindergartens and within Associations.