Isolation allowance

You will be paid an isolation allowance if your employment as a primary or area school teacher means you have to live permanently in an area the Ministry has defined as ‘isolated’.

Level of compliance Main audience Other

Inform

  • Teachers and Kaiako
  • Principals and Tumuaki
  • Boards

About the allowance

Primary and area school principals and teachers are entitled to an isolation allowance if they are employed at a school or kura in a location deemed isolated.

The rate of the allowance will vary depending on the location.
Part-time teachers will receive the allowance on a pro-rata basis.

The eligible schools may be changed by the Ministry as needs change. This won’t happen more than once a year and only after consultation with employee representatives.

The lists have been updated for 2024.

For more information, please contact: teacher.supply@education.govt.nz.

Eligibility and allowance conditions

Teacher/
Principal:
Condition: Rate:

Primary teachers

Locality with a population of fewer than 300 and 60-150kms (inclusive) from a population centre of 1,500 or more

$1,200 p/a

Locality with a population of fewer than 300 and 150kms or more from a population centre of 1,500 or more

$2,200 p/a

Specific locations

$1,200 p/a

Great Barrier Island or Stewart Island

$2,200 p/a

Area school teachers and principals

Locality with a population of fewer than 300 and 60-150kms (inclusive) from a population centre of 1,500 or more

$1,200 p/a

Locality with a population of fewer than 300 and 150kms or more from a population centre of 1,500 or more

$2,200 p/a

Specific locations

$1,200 p/a

Primary principals

Locality with a population of fewer than 300 and 60-100km from a population centre of 1,500 or more

$616 p/a

Locality with a population of fewer than 300 and 101-150km from a population centre of 1,500 or more

$1,034 p/a

Locality with a population of fewer than 300 and 151-200km from a population centre of 1,500 or more

$1,547 p/a

Locality with a population of fewer than 300 and 200km or more from a population centre of 1,500 or more

$3,032 p/a
$2,173 p/a

Locality on an offshore island:

Great Barrier Island

Halfmoon Bay (Stewart Island)

Matakana Island, Waiheke Island

 

$2,058 p/a

$1,547 p/a

$1,034 p/a

Specific locations

Varies

Eligible schools for primary teachers

Locations due to distance

Clause 3.15.5 (a) – Primary Teachers' Collective Agreement

For an employee whose full-time residence is in a locality with a population of fewer than 300 that is also between 60kms and 150kms (inclusive) from a population centre of more than 1,500 people, the rate shall be $1,200 p/a.

SCHOOL NUMBER SCHOOL NAME

1

363

559

1035

1046

1066

1085

1109

1114

1706

1707

2191

2200

2267

2375

2407

2413

2429

2578

2585

2587

2594

2600

2609

2611

2616

2649

2657

2658

2659

2703

2706

2962

3064

3199

3204

2319

3343

3359

3368

3406

3452

3490

3566

3592

3764

3767

3802

3824

3837

3838

3938

3953

3984

4030

4218

Te Kura o Te Kao

Waitaki Valley School

Te Kura o Te Wainui-Ā-Rua

Kohukohu School

Te Kura o Mātihetihi

Oruaiti School

Pouto School

Te Hapua School

Tinopai School

Colville School

Coroglen School

Marco School

Mokau School

Whareorino School

Kakatahi School

Ngamatapouri School

Orautoha School

Raetihi Primary School

Hiruharama School

Kereru School

Kotemaori School

Makarika School

TKKM o Mangatuna

Mata School

Matawai School

Motu School

Potaka School

Putere School

Putorina School

TKKM o Tapere-Nui-A-Whatonga

Tikitiki School

Hatea-A-Rangi

Pongaroa School

Waitaria Bay School

Lake Rotoiti School

Maruia School

Sacred Heart School (Reefton)

Franz Josef Glacier School

Greta Valley School

Hanmer Springs School

Lake Tekapo School

Okains Bay School

Rotherham School

Waiau School

Whataroa School

Macraes Moonlight School

Makarora Primary School

Poolburn School

St John's School (Ranfurly)

Strath Taieri School

Tahakopa School

Hauroko Valley Primary School

Garston School

Mararoa School

Tokanui School

TKKM o Tokomaru

PTCA Clause 3.15.6 (a) – Primary Teachers' Collective Agreement

For an employee whose full-time residence is in a locality with a population of fewer than 300 that is also more than 150kms from a population centre of more than 1,500 people, the rate shall be $2,200 p/a.

SCHOOL NUMBER SCHOOL NAME

3342

3363

3442

Fox Glacier School

Haast School

Aoraki Mount Cook School

Specific locations

Clause 3.15.5 (b) – Primary Teachers' Collective Agreement

(external link)For an employee whose full-time residence is in one of the following locations, the rate shall be $1,200 p/a.

SCHOOL NUMBER SCHOOL NAME

1001

1016

1081

1675

1688

1736

1771

1896

1998

2052

2185

2215

2420

2625

2664

3747

3955

Aranga School

Horeke School

Peria School

Ruakituri School

Arohena School

Hauteur School

Kawhia School

Piripiri School

Te Akau School

Waikaretu School

Makahu School

Ongarue School

Papanui Junction School

Ohuka School

Rere School

Hawea Flat School

Glenorchy School

Clause 3.15.5 (c) – Primary Teachers' Collective Agreement(external link)

For an employee whose full-time residence is located on Matakana Island or Waiheke Island, the rate shall be $1,200 p/a.

SCHOOL NUMBER SCHOOL NAME

1177

1811

6922

Te Huruhi School

Te Kura o Te Moutere O Matakana

Waiheke Primary School

PTCA Clause 3.15.6 (b) – Primary Teachers' Collective Agreement

For an employee whose full-time residence is on Great Barrier Island or Stewart Island, the rate shall be $2,200 p/a.

SCHOOL NUMBER SCHOOL NAME

1385

1398

1593

3961

Mulberry Grove School

Okiwi School

Kaitoke School (Claris)

Halfmoon Bay School

Eligible schools for area school teachers and principals

Locations due to distance

Clause 3.23.6 – Area School Teachers' Collective Agreement

For an employee whose full-time residence is in a locality with a population of fewer than 300 that is also between 60km and150kms (inclusive) from a population centre of more than 1,500 people, the rate of the allowance shall be $1,200 p/a.

SCHOOL NUMBER SCHOOL NAME

10

11

206

290

299

300

308

309

311

350

370

496

742

1673

1748

2084

3119

Te Kura Taumata o Panguru

Opononi Area School

Ngata Memorial College

Collingwood Area School

Murchison Area School

Karamea Area School

Amuri Area School

Cheviot Area School

Hurunui College

Akaroa Area School

Maniototo Area School

Reefton Area School

Te Kura o Te Whānau-a-Apanui

TKKM o Te Waiu o Ngati Porou

TKKM o Huiarau

Te Kura Mana Maori o Whangaparaoa

TKKM o Kawakawa mai Tawhiti

Clause 3.23.6 – Area School Teachers' Collective Agreement

For an employee whose full-time residence is in a locality with a population of less than 300 that is also more than 150kms from a population centre of more than 1,500 people, the rate of the allowance shall be $2,200 p/a.

SCHOOL NUMBER SCHOOL NAME

550

Te Waha O Rerekohu Area School

Specific locations

SCHOOL NUMBER SCHOOL NAME

306

527

3332

South Westland Area School

Twizel Area School

Duvauchelle School

Eligible schools for primary principals

Locations due to distance

Appendix 1 – Primary Principals' Collective Agreement

For an employee whose full-time residence is in a locality with a population of less than 300 that is also between 60-100kms (inclusive) from a population centre of 1,500 or more, the rate shall be $616 p/a.

SCHOOL NUMBER SCHOOL NAME

1

363

559

1035

1046

1066

1085

1114

1706

1707

1778

1922

1971

2191

2200

2267

2375

2407

2413

2429

2585

2587

2600

2611

2616

2657

2658

2706

2722

2962

3064

3199

3219

3359

3406

3452

3490

3566

3764

3767

3802

3824

3837

3838

3933

3938

3953

3984

4030

4218

Te Kura o Te Kao

Waitaki Valley School

Whanganui Awa School

Kohukohu School

Te Kura o Mātihetihi

Oruaiti School

Pouto School

Tinopai School

Colville School

Coroglen School

Kinohaku School

Raukokore School

Te Kura o Tahaaroa

Marco School

Mokau School

Whareorino School

Kakatahi School

Ngamatapouri School

Orautoha School

Raetihi Primary School

Kereru School

Kotemaori School

TKKM o Mangatuna

Matawai School

Motu School

Putere School

Putorina School

Hatea-A-Rangi

Waipaoa Station School

Pongaroa School

Waitaria Bay School

Lake Rotoiti School

Sacred Heart School (Reefton)

Greta Valley School

Lake Tekapo School

Okains Bay School

Rotherham School

Waiau School

Macraes Moonlight School

Makarora Primary School

Poolburn School

St John's School (Ranfurly)

Strath Taieri School

Tahakopa School

Blackmount School

Hauroko Valley Primary School

Garston School

Mararoa School

Tokanui School

TKKM o Tokomaru

Appendix 1 – Primary Principals' Collective Agreement

For an employee whose full-time residence is in a locality with a population of less than 300 that is also between 101-150kms (inclusive) from a population centre of 1,500 or more, the rate shall be $1,034 p/a.

SCHOOL NUMBER SCHOOL NAME

206

527

1109

1673

2084

2578

2594

2609

2649

2659

2699

2703

2724

3119

3204

3343

3368

3592

3789

Memorial College

Twizel Area School

Te Hapua School

TKKM o Te Waiu o Ngati Porou

Te Kura Mana Maori o Whangaparaoa

Hiruharama School

Makarika School

Mata School

Potaka School

TKKM o Tapere-Nui-A-Whatonga

Te Puia Springs School

Tikitiki School

TKKM o Waipiro

TKKM o Kawakawa mai Tawhiti

Maruia School

Franz Josef Glacier School

Hanmer Springs School

Whataroa School

Omarama School

Appendix 1 – Primary Principals' Collective Agreement

For an employee whose full-time residence is in a locality with a population of less than 300 that is also between 151-200kms (inclusive) from a population centre of 1,500 or more, the rate shall be $1,547 p/a.

SCHOOL NUMBER SCHOOL NAME

3342

3363

3442

Fox Glacier School

Haast School

Aoraki Mount Cook School

For an employee whose full-time residence is in a locality with a population of less than 300 that is also more than 200kms from a population centre of 1,500 or more, the rate shall be $3,032 or $2,173 p/a dependent.

Appendix 1 – Primary Principals' Collective Agreement

SCHOOL NUMBER SCHOOL NAME

No eligible schools

Specific locations

Appendix 1 – Primary Principals' Collective Agreement

For an employee whose full-time residence located on an offshore island:

  • Great Barrier Island – the rate shall be $2,058 p/a
  • Halfmoon Bay (Stewart Island) – the rate shall be $1,547 p/a
  • Matakana Island, Waiheke Island – the rate shall be $1,034 p/a
SCHOOL NUMBER SCHOOL NAME

1385

1398

1593

3961

1811

6922

Mulberry Grove School

Okiwi School

Kaitoke School (Claris)

Halfmoon Bay School

Te Kura o Te Moutere O Matakana

Waiheke Primary School

 

Appendix 1 – Primary Principals' Collective Agreement

An employee whose full-time residence is in a locality on the category 6 list held by the Ministry and NZEI Te Riu Roa shall receive the following appropriate allowance.

LOCALITY BASIC RATE PER ANNUM ($)

Aranga

Arohena

Glenorchy

Hauturu

Hawea Flat

Horeke

Kawhia

Makahu

Ohuka

Omarama

Ongarue

Papanui Junction

Peria

Piri Piri

Puketitiri

Rere

Ruakituri

Taharoa

Te Akau

Waikaretu

$378

$471

$513

$481

$616

$376

$616

$452

$461

$616

$358

$378

$503

$441

$533

$481

$543

$616

$441

$573

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