NZEI Te Riu Roa is committed to the protection and upholding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We believe in the power of unity and the importance of working together to ensure that the rights and interests of our members, and all Māori, are respected and advanced.

The pay equity claim for teachers is currently underway. It is about addressing the historic and current undervaluation in both pay and status in roles that society has perceived to be ‘women’s work’. The process determines if there has been undervaluation and if so, this is corrected. All teachers and principals working in schools, kindergartens and education and care settings are covered by the claim, regardless of gender.

Early childhood teachers so an incredibly important job. But their pay is up to 52% behind kindergarten and primary with the same skills, qualifications and responsibilities. We believe the government needs to act now to fix the gap.

Initial Teacher Education (ITE) plays a vital role in our education system, preparing future teachers with the knowledge and skills they need to begin teaching.

Studying to become an educator? In your first 5 years of teaching? Te Kupenga Rangatahi (New Educators Network) is a great way to make sure you get the best start to your teaching career.

The 2025 scholarship applications round opened in February 2024 and close on Friday 10th May 2024. To learn more about the application process, what to expect and how to write a good application, check out the article linked below.