[FAQ] How often do subscription rates change?

Subscription rates usually change only once a year. The actual rates and the thresholds at which each rate becomes payable are adjusted in line with the Consumer Price Index as at the end of December prior to the following year’s Annual Meeting.

Subscription rate changes are notified to members via NZEI Te Riu Roa News emails and individually to each member who pays by direct debit or recurring debit/credit card payments no later than 10 days before the change takes place. No action is required by most members although we do recommend checking that the rate to be paid is correct for your gross fortnightly pay.

Annual CPI change to 31 March 2024 was 4.0%, therefore, the subscription increase is 4.0%. In practical terms this means increases for members of between 12 cents and $1.32 a fortnight (or $2.90 and $30.19 a year).

If you are teaching full time at a school or kindergarten or working full time in learning support for the Ministry of Education, then the top subscription rate will apply.

Otherwise, please use this calculator to determine your correct subscription rate. 

The new rates are indexed to the annual CPI for the year ended 31 March 2024. The union is facing raising costs in supporting members. For example, travel costs for member leaders to national hui and negotiations have been significantly higher. Increased subscriptions in line with the CPI increase will ensure we meet our basic costs and continue our work in advocacy, organising and campaigning to make wins for members.

You can read NZEI Te Riu Roa Rules here.

1 April 2025.

Nothing else is required if you pay by payroll deduction, a direct debit/credit card payment plan or by invoice. Payroll deduction providers will action the subscription increase directly. Direct debit and credit card payers will receive an email confirming their subscription increase. All invoices issued by NZEI Te Riu Roa from 1 April 2025 will be at the new rates.

If you pay by automatic payment you will need to change your fortnightly or monthly payments to your new rate from 1 April 2025. We will send you a reminder.

Your subscription rates are calculated on an annual basis and spread across regular payments to make them easier to plan for and manage. This means that you’re covered 365 days a year, whenever you need support.

If you’re facing financial hardship and want to discuss your fees, get in touch with the Member Support Centre to chat through your options.

How often you pay depends on how you choose to pay.

• If you pay by direct debit you can choose to pay fortnightly or monthly.
• If you pay by credit/debit card you can choose to pay fortnightly, monthly, three monthly, six monthly or annually.
• If you opt to be invoiced and pay by direct credit to our bank account you can choose to pay three monthly, six monthly or annually.

If you chose to pay fortnightly, we recommend that you pay your subscription on the day after your pay goes into your bank account. This is because direct debit and credit card transactions are normally processed by the banks before salary and wage payments. We have no control over these timings.

Just let NZEI Te Riu Roa know when your leave is to commence and when it will cease. We will suspend direct debits for the period of leave. Your membership will be retained during any period of leave without pay for up to fifteen months.

If you no longer require membership, please request to cancel your membership here. So we can continue serving members in the best way possible, we would value your honest feedback about your reasons for ending your membership.

NZEI Te Riu Roa does not receive notification from employers when a member ceases employment with them, so it is important to contact us if you are no longer employed in a position eligible for union coverage by NZEI Te Riu Roa.

There is a one month notice period for resignation of membership.

NZEI Te Riu Roa is politically and financially independent, relying on member subscriptions for our income. Your membership fees contribute to improving the employment terms and conditions in your worksites and winning transformational system changes via pay equity.

By working together collaboratively with members to address key issues via collective agreement negotiations and pay equity has resulted in meaningful and impactful changes our members feel deeply about.

Since 2022, pay equity has delivered pay increases from 10% up to 79% for claimants, collective agreement cumulative pay increases of approximately 7% to 20%. You can read a breakdown of these costs and about our impact as a union in the 2024 Annual Report.