Principals and teachers

This directory supports boards and school teaching staff to understand the rights and responsibilities that are associated with their roles.

Level of compliance Main audience Other

Inform

  • Boards
  • Principals and Tumuaki
  • Teachers and Kaiako
  • Administrators

Boards and school staff must comply with the requirements set out in employment agreements.

Primary schools

Primary principals in state and state-integrated schools and kura are covered by either the Primary Principals’ (NZEI TRR) Collective Agreement or the Primary Principals' (PPCBU) Collective Agreement, or an individual employment agreement (IEA) with similar terms and conditions as the PPCA.

Primary principals

Primary teachers in state and state-integrated schools and kura are covered by the terms and conditions of either the Primary Teachers’ Collective Agreement (PTCA), or an individual employment agreement (IEA) with similar terms and conditions as the PTCA.

Primary teachers

Secondary schools

Secondary principals in state and state-integrated schools and kura are covered by the terms and conditions of either the Secondary Principals' Collective Agreement (SPCA), or an individual employment agreement (IEA) with similar terms and conditions as the SPCA. 

Secondary principals

Secondary teachers in state and state-integrated schools and kura are covered by the terms and conditions of either the Secondary Teachers’ Collective Agreement (STCA), or an individual employment agreement (IEA) with similar terms and conditions as the STCA.

Secondary teachers

Area schools

Area school principals in state and state-integrated schools and kura are covered by either the Area School Principals’ Collective Agreement (ASPCA), or an individual employment agreement (IEA), with similar terms and conditions as the ASPCA. 

Area school principals

Area school teachers in state and state-integrated schools and kura are covered by the terms and conditions of either the Area School Teachers’ Collective Agreement (ASTCA), or an individual employment agreement (IEA) with similar terms and conditions as the ASTCA.

Area school teachers

Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu Early Childhood

Most early childhood teachers employed by Te Aho o te Kura Pounamu will be covered by the Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu Early Childhood Teachers’ Collective Agreement or an individual employment agreement (IEA).

Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu Early Childhood teachers

Kindergartens

Most kindergarten teachers employed by one of the 33 kindergarten associations will be covered by the Kindergarten Teachers, Head Teachers and Senior Teachers' Collective Agreement (KTCA), or an individual employment agreement (IEA).

Kindergarten teachers

Principal eligibility criteria

The 2019 review of Tomorrow’s Schools indicated concerns that there were no consistent standards or criteria for the appointment of principals. As part of Government’s response to the review, section 617 of the Education and Training Act 2020 (the Act) was enacted. This requires the Minister of Education to issue eligibility criteria that must be met by applicants for appointment to the position of principal.

As a result, development of the criteria began and has been sector-led.

Individuals nominated by PPTA, NZEI, and Mātauranga Iwi Leader’s Group have developed one set of criteria. Ngā Kura ā Iwi (NKāI) and Te Runanga Nui o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa (TRN) have also developed criteria for those applying to be tumuaki at kura and kura Kaupapa Māori affiliated with these groups. 

The three criteria can be found below, alongside supporting guidance.

Note: The criteria have not yet been formally issued by the Minister of Education but are available for boards to use if they wish, in order to become familiar with them. Once the criteria have been formally issued, they will become a legal requirement to use.

Aotearoa New Zealand Principal Eligibility Criteria (ANZPEC)

These eligibility criteria apply to people seeking to be principals of state or state-integrated schools/kura in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Aotearoa New Zealand principal eligibility [PDF, 165 KB]

Send your feedback on the ANZPEC guidance

Aotearoa New Zealand principal eligibility criteria survey — SurveyMonkey(external link)

Boards using ANZPEC

Board assessment tool [PDF, 614 KB]

Paearu kopou tumuaki (TRN)

These eligibility criteria apply to people seeking to be tumuaki of kura kaupapa Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Ngā paearu kopou tumuaki mā ngā kura kaupapa Māori (Te Aho Matua) [DOCX, 34 KB]

Paearu kopou tumuaki [PDF, 935 KB]

He Paearu Angitū Mō Ngā Tumuaki Kura ā Iwi (NKāI)

These eligibility criteria apply to people seeking to be tumuaki of kura ā iwi in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Ngā paearu kopou tumuaki mā ngā kura ā iwi o Aotearoa [DOCX, 46 KB]

He paerau angitū mō ngā tumuaki kura ā iwi [PDF, 177 KB]

Police vetting for schools and kura Māori

Police vetting is part of the safety checking process a school or kura Māori must do when employing or engaging staff. This is a requirement of both the Education and Training Act 2020 and the Children's Act 2014.

Police vetting for schools and kura Māori

Performance management

All staff are required to participate in a school’s performance management process. 

Performance management

Scholarships, awards and funding

Find out about the scholarships, awards, funding and sabbaticals available to principals and teachers.

Scholarships, awards and funding for people working in schools

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