Isolation Allowance

You’ll 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’.

Learn about the Isolation Allowance and see the list of schools whose teaching staff are eligible to receive it. 

• About the allowance
• Your employment agreement
• About eligible schools
• Eligible schools – Primary principals
• Eligible schools – Primary teachers
• Eligible schools – Area school principals and area school teachers

About the allowance

A number of allowances are paid to teachers and principals employed in schools that the Ministry has identified as needing additional support for recruitment or retention (sometimes called ‘hard to staff’ schools).

Primary and area school principals and teachers are entitled to an Isolation Allowance if you: 

• live in a place with a population of less than 300, and
• are more than a certain distance from a population centre of more than 1,500 people.

The isolation allowance is set out in the collective agreements as follows:

About eligible schools

There are 6 categories for the Isolation Allowance and the amount paid is different for each. The categories are based on distance from a population centre with more than 1,500 people.

• Category 1: 60-100 kilometres
• Category 2: 101-150 kilometres
• Category 3: 151-200 kilometres
• Category 4: 200 kilometres and over
• Category 5: Offshore islands
• Category 6: Schools listed in Appendix 1 of the Primary Teachers’ Collective Agreement

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.

Eligible schools – Primary principals

Isolation category 1: 60-100 kilometres

Isolation category 2: 101-150 kilometres

Isolation category 3: 151-200 kilometres

Isolation category 4: 200 kilometres and over

No eligible schools.

Isolation category 5: Offshore islands

Chatham Island schools are excluded as they have specific provisions in place.

Isolation category 6: PTCA, Appendix 1

Eligible schools – Primary teachers

Isolation category 1: 60-100 kilometres

Isolation category 2: 101-150 kilometres

Isolation category 3: 151-200 kilometres

Isolation category 4: 200 kilometres and over

No eligible schools.

Isolation category 5: Offshore islands

Chatham Island schools are excluded as they have specific provisions in place.

Isolation category 6: PTCA, Appendix 1

Eligible schools – Area school principals and area school teachers

Isolation category 1: 60-100 kilometres

Isolation category 2: 101-150 kilometres

Isolation category 3: 151-200 kilometres

Isolation category 4: 200 kilometres and over

No eligible schools.

Isolation category 5: Offshore islands

Chatham Island schools are excluded as they have specific provisions in place.

Isolation category 6: PTCA, Appendix 1

Last reviewed: 08 November 2021 Has this been useful? Give us your feedback