Primary Principals’ (PPCBU) Collective Agreement 2025-2028
The Primary Principals’ (PPCBU) Collective Agreementopen_in_new (PPCA-PPCBU) was ratified in October 2025 for a term of 30 months from 17 October 2025 to 16 April 2028.
Please note: two primary principal collective agreements are in force. Whether a principal is under the PPCA-PPCBU or the PPCA-NZEI depends on several factors. Please review this guidance on employment agreement coverage for primary principalsopen_in_new to determine whether this PPCA applies to your principal.
What changes should you be aware of?
Along with base remuneration increases, the new PPCA-PPCBU includes these key changes:
-
An increase to the Leadership and Numeracy salary component to $10,000.
-
Five $3,000 instalments paid between April 2026 and March 2028 to recognise curriculum change, paid either to a PLD fund for the principal or as a cash allowance. For more information, please see our article on Professional Development Funding for Principal Leadership (PPCA-PPCBU)open_in_new.
-
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 6.2.13).
-
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).
-
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 7.4.1(e)).
What actions are required of you?
Existing employees on IEAs – all employees on Individual Employment Agreements (IEAs) based on the previous PPCA-PPCBU will need to sign a new IEA to receive the new pay rates and enhanced conditions.
They should be offered both the PPCA-PPCBU and PPCA-NZE IEAs available from the Ministry of Education’s Primary principals' collective and individual employment agreementsopen_in_new page. They will need to sign the one they prefer.
The new rates and conditions will apply from the date the IEA is signed.
New appointments – all new staff who are members of the PPCBU will need to be offered a PPCA-specific letter of offer for employment. These can be accessed from our Recruiting principals – permanent letters of offeropen_in_new page of the Resource Centre.
If they are not a union member, and choose not to join a union, they should be offered both the PPCA-NZEI and PPCA-PPCBU IEAs available from the Ministry of Education’s Primary principals' collective and individual employment agreementsopen_in_new page. They will need to sign the one they prefer.
Do not use old letters saved to your computer as they are out of date.
Templates, resources, and references
Click on the link(s) below to access the templates, resources, and references related to this topic.
These may download or open in a separate browser depending on your device.
Links from us