Chatham and Pitt Island provisions

The employment provisions of the Primary Principals’ (NZEI Te Riu Roa) and Primary Teachers’ collective agreements have been updated for principals and teachers employed at Te One, Kaingaroa, and Pitt Island Schools.

The provisions outlined below are specific to teachers and principals working on the Chatham and Pitt Islands. 

What changes should schools be aware of?

• Increase to the Isolation Allowance – The Chatham Islands isolation allowance has been increased to $2,500 per year.
  This allowance now falls under category 5 of the broader Isolation Allowance provision in the collective agreements.
  Schools need to apply this allowance to employees via EdPay.
  
  
• Increase to the Freight Allowance – The base allowance for freight is now $5,000 per year and is paid as a fortnightly allowance.
  For employees living with a partner or spouse, an additional $4,000 annual allowance now applies.
  For each dependent child, an additional allowance of $1,500 per year now applies. Schools need to apply this allowance to employees via EdPay.
  
  
• Mainland trip provisions – Employees and their family members are entitled to take one subsidised annual leave trip per school year, where the school board pays the actual return airfares. For the principal on Pitt Island, this includes associated travel between Chatham and Pitt Islands.
  The annual subsidised leave trip is no longer required to be taken in the December/January period, and there is no qualifying period.
  In addition to the trip to the mainland, the principal on Pitt Island is entitled to two return air or boat fares between Pitt and Chatham Islands per school year.
  The qualifying period for paid flights to the mainland for PLD purposes has been reduced to six months’ continuous service after arrival on the Chatham Islands.
  
  
• Removal expenses – Where a principal is not eligible under Appendix 2 of the collective agreement, removal expenses will be paid upon retirement after completing five years of continuous service at the Chatham and Pitt schools.
  Teachers continue to be entitled to removal expenses after two years of continuous service.

Where can I access an overview of the Chatham Islands provisions? 

This Chatham Islands provisions overview documentopen_in_new explains each entitlement, who is responsible, and how to apply for reimbursements.

Templates, resources, and references

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Links from us

• Chatham Islands provisions overview documentopen_in_new

Collective Agreements

• Primary Principals’ (NZEI Te Riu Roa) Collective Agreementopen_in_new
• Primary Teachers’ Collective Agreementopen_in_new

Ministry of Education

• Boarding allowances – information for schools and kuraopen_in_new
• Contact for flights and household energy costs: resourcing@education.govt.nz, phone: 04 463 8383.
• Transfer and Removal Expenses – Lump Sum Eligibility and Assessment Form (TR1)open_in_new