Māori Immersion Allowance
Learn about the Māori Immersion Allowance, which you’ll be paid if you meet the criteria set out in your employment agreement.
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Check if you meet the eligibility criteria for the Māori Immersion Allowance.
- Primary principals
- Primary teachers
- Secondary teachers
- Area school principals
- Area school teachers
- Definition of levels of Māori immersion
Primary principals
If you’re required to teach in te Reo Māori immersion classes at levels 1, 2 or 3 you’ll receive an allowance of $4,000 per annum. A further allowance may be payable following 3 years’ continuous service.
The allowance is set out in clause 6.2.6 of the collective agreement.
Clause 6.2.6 - Primary Principals' Collective Agreement
Primary teachers
If you’re required to teach in te Reo Māori immersion classes at levels 1, 2 or 3 you’ll receive an allowance of $4,000 per annum. Further allowances are paid once you’ve completed 3 years’ and 6 years’ continuous service.
The allowance is set out in clause 3.17 of the collective agreement.
Clause 3.17 – Primary Teachers’ Collective Agreement
Secondary teachers
If you’re required to use te Reo Māori for at least 6 hours per week in approved Māori immersion programmes at levels 1, 2 or 3 you’ll receive an allowance of $4,000 per annum.
The allowance is set out in clause 4.18 of the collective agreement.
Clause 4.18 – Secondary Teachers’ Collective Agreement
Area school principals
If you’re required to teach in te Reo Māori immersion classes at levels 1, 2 or 3 you’ll receive an allowance of $4,000 per annum. Further allowances are paid once you’ve completed 3 years’ and 6 years’ continuous service.
The allowance is set out in clause 3.5 of the collective agreement.
Clause 3.5 – Area School Principals’ Collective Agreement
Area school teachers
If you required to use te Reo Māori for at least 6 hours per week in approved Māori immersion programmes at levels 1, 2 or 3 you’ll receive an allowance of $4,000 per annum. Further allowances are paid once you’ve completed 3 years’ and 6 years’ continuous service.
The allowance is set out in clause 3.14 of the collective agreement.
Clause 3.14 – Area School Teachers’ Collective Agreement
Definition of levels 1-3 of Māori immersion
Level 1
Level 1: Maintenance Programmes (81% to 100% immersion):
- Te reo Māori is the principal language of communication and instruction.
- The principal curriculum is taught entirely in Māori.
(It’s expected that all students in the programme will interact freely in Māori.)
Level 2
Level 2: Development Programmes (51% to 80% immersion):
- Te reo Māori is, for most of the time, the language of communication and instruction.
- English is accepted as a temporary language of instruction and communication.
- There’s an agreement between the school and parents that the programme will achieve a particular level of immersion over a specified period of time.
- The level of fluency of the teacher will vary considerably, from not very fluent to native-like fluency.
- There’s a reliance on Kaiarahi Reo to increase the amount of spoken Māori in the programme.
(It’s expected that not all students in the programme will interact freely in Māori.)
Level 3
Level 3: Emerging Programmes (31% to 50% immersion):
- English is the main language of communication and instruction.
- The teacher can communicate at a basic level of Māori, but has difficulty instructing in Māori.
- Māori is used as the classroom management language.
- An increase in the level of immersion is restricted by the level of fluency of the teacher.
- A Kaiarahi Reo is usually the only fluent speaker in the programme.
Note: A school which is offering Māori as a subject only would not meet the level 3 immersion criteria.
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