Primary Teachers’ Collective Agreement 2026-2028
The Primary Teachers’ Collective Agreementopen_in_new (PTCA) covering primary school teachers was ratified in March 2026 for a term of 30 months from 2 April 2026 to 2 October 2028.
Further guidance will be released in the coming weeks regarding other key changes, including (but not limited to) the Chatham and Pitt Island provisions and the Relief Teacher Professional Learning Development fund.
What are the key features of the settlement?
Remuneration
The settlement provides an increase to salary rates as follows:
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2.5% from 2 April 2026
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A further 2.0% from 28 January 2027 to all steps, except
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Steps 9 and 10 of the Trained Teachers’ scale increase by a further 2.1% from 28 January 2027.
New pay rates tables are contained in the PTCA (CA) and in the MoE Circular 2026/09open_in_new.
Units
Unit values will increase from $4,500 to $5,100 as of 2 April 2026. The unit value increases to $5,250 from 28 January 2027, with a final increase to $5,500 taking effect on 2 October 2028.
Other allowances
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The Associate Teacher Allowance of $51.60 per week is now a minimum rate. Boards may choose to pay at a higher rate, consistent with arrangements between the board and the provider.
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The School Camp Allowance increases to $35/day from the beginning of the 2027 school year.
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An additional 25 Cultural Leadership Allowances are being made available from the beginning of the 2027 school year. These will be distributed based on the existing allocation method.
Learning Support Coordinators
Learning support coordinators may now be appointed full-time, part-time, or on a job-share basis.
Disregarded sick leave
The rules around disregarded sick leave have been clarified to make it clear when disregarded sick leave will not be granted by the Secretary for Education:
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Where the raising of a complaint/personal grievance against the employer has substantially caused a stress-related or non-physical illness.
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Where the employee being subject to a disciplinary or competency process has substantially caused the sickness.
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Where the employer has agreed to support an application for disregarded sick leave as part of settlement of an employment relationship problem or a negotiated exit from employment.
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Where payment has been made by the Accident Compensation Corporation.
Service credit
There are enhancements for recognition of service credit of untrained teachers and recognition of staff who return to state schools from charter schools as transferred employees.
Chatham and Pitt Islands provisions
The specific entitlements for teachers employed on the Chatham Islands have been updated to align with those agreed for Primary Principals, including increases to the Isolation and Freight Allowances.
Other matters as part of the settlement
In addition to the changes to terms and conditions outlined above, a number of additional matters were agreed including:
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A $2.5m fund to support short-term relievers engage in professional learning and development. Further details will be provided shortly.
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500 days of teacher release in 2027 and in 2028 to support teachers in U1 to U3 schools to support the roll out of curriculum changes.
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An additional 25 Cultural Leadership Allowances will be made available from the start of the 2027 school year.
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Clarification that the Beginning Teacher Time Allowance should be used to provide beginning teachers with a robust advice and guidance programme, including potential release of their mentor teacher.
Individual Employment Agreements (IEAs)
With the settlement of the PTCA, new IEAs have been promulgated on 15 April 2026 for employees who are not NZEI members.
For employees who are not NZEI members, the new IEAs will be effective from the date on which the employee and employer sign the Agreement.
These IEAs replace the ones promulgated in March. Teachers who are not NZEI members should be offered the newest IEA, even if they have signed the previous iteration.
What actions do you need to take?
All employees on Individual Employment Agreements (IEAs) will need to sign the new IEA to receive the new pay rates and enhanced conditions.
The new IEA will be available from the Primary teachers' collective and individual employment agreements pageopen_in_new.
What IEAs have been promulgated by the Secretary for Education?
On 15 April 2026, three separate IEAs were promulgated. These are for:
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Permanent Primary Teachers
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Long Term Relievers
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Short Term (Day Relief) Relievers
What do the new IEAs provide?
The IEAs promulgated by the Secretary for Education reflect the terms and conditions of the recently ratified PTCA 2026-2028.
When are the new IEAs effective from?
The new IEA is effective from the later of the date it is signed on behalf of the board or by the teacher.
What happens if a teacher has already signed the March 2026 IEA?
The March 2026 IEA was also effective from the later of the date it was signed by the teacher or on behalf of the board. Those terms of employment continue until they are replaced, by the board and teacher signing the newly promulgated IEA.
Does that mean there will be no additional pay increase for a teacher who signed the March 2026 IEA if they sign the new April 2026 IEA?
Correct. The initial pay rates will be the same, however the new (15 April 2026) IEA incorporates a further increase to unit rates to $5,500 per unit per annum from 2 October 2028.
There are other changes to terms and conditions in the new offer, including:
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An increase to the camp allowance from the start of the 2027 school year.
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Changes to disregarded sick leave provisions.
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Making the Associate Teacher Allowance a minimum rate.
What happens if a teacher doesn’t sign the April 2026 IEA?
If a teacher doesn’t sign the new IEA (or join NZEI) then they remain on their current terms and conditions of employment
New appointments
All new staff covered by the PTCA will need to be offered an PTCA-specific letter of offer for employment. These can be accessed from our recruitment section of the Resource Centre.
If they are not a member of NZEI Te Riu Roa, and do not choose to join the union, they will need to sign the promulgated IEA for Primary Teachersopen_in_new.
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