Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche has welcomed the conclusion of negotiations on the Primary Teachers’ Collective Agreement.
Union members voted today to accept the settlement. The agreement applies to primary teachers who are members of NZEI Te Riu Roa and brings this bargaining round to a close.
Under the agreement, primary teachers on the top two steps of the salary scale will now receive a total pay increase of 4.7% by January 2027. This includes a 2.5% increase effective today and a further 2.1% increase in January next year. Teachers progressing through the scale will continue to receive annual step increases alongside pay increases of around 4.5% to 4.6% over the same period.
“From today, teachers at the top of the scale will, on average, receive an extra $50 (before tax) in their pockets every week, increasing to $92 a week in January,” Sir Brian said.
“This is money that could have been flowing months ago, so it’s good to finally have certainty for teachers and schools.”
The settlement includes a targeted change to the value of salary units, which recognise additional classroom responsibilities. The value of units will increase in stages from $4,500 to $5,500 by October 2028. This modest adjustment for teachers who take on extra roles does not alter the 4.7% salary increase that has been on the table since last December.
“The salary settings in this settlement are unchanged from the previous offer,” Sir Brian says. “This outcome shows what can be achieved through good‑faith negotiations within an agreed mandate. It balances fairness for teachers with responsible management of public funding.”
Sir Brian said his only regret was the time taken to reach agreement.
“My only disappointment is that what has now been agreed did not happen earlier,” he said.
“Reaching this point sooner would have delivered hard working teachers an extra $550 (before tax) since December. They have missed out on that money, which is regrettable.”
Primary teachers employed on Individual Employment Agreements will receive the same salary rates as those set out in the collective agreement.
Sir Brian thanked the Employment Relations Authority for its role in supporting constructive discussions, and he acknowledged both NZEI Te Riu Roa and the Ministry of Education bargaining teams.
Full details of the Primary Teachers’ Collective Agreement (PTCA) settlement can be found here:
