Primary Principals’ (NZEI Te Riu Roa) Collective Agreement 2026-2028

An increase to the Leadership and Numeracy salary component to $10,000 over the term of the agreement. 

A new curriculum change allowance to be paid in five $3,000 instalments between March 2026 and March 2028. 

Increases to allowances and claimable expenses for principals working at Chatham and Pitt Island schools (see our article on Chatham and Pitt Island provisionsopen_in_new for more details).  

Introduction of a principal mentor allowance, entitling principals who mentor participants as part of the Aspiring and Beginning Principals Programmesopen_in_new to $5,000 per annum (see clause 6.2.12). 

Introduction of a mentor allowance for U1 and U2 school principals who mentor provisionally certified teachers because no other mentor is available in the school (see clause 6.2.14).   

The splitting of the U16 grade into U16-U19 to acknowledge the leadership scope, scale and responsibilities of larger schools (see clause 5.2.2).  

Tightening of the criteria for disregarded sick leave, including removing eligibility for disregarded sick leave when the raising of a complaint/personal grievance against the employer has substantially caused a stress-related or non-physical illness, where the employee being subject to a disciplinary or competency process has substantially caused the sickness or as part of settlement of an employment relationship problem or a negotiated exit from employment (see cl 7.4.3).