Secondary Teachers Initiate Bargaining Amidst Teacher Shortage And Pay Equity Tensions

Every secondary student in Aotearoa New Zealand deserves a teacher who is trained in the subject they are teaching, and too many are being denied this, the latest PPTA Te Wehengarua staffing snapshot shows.

Today, to mark the initiation of bargaining for the Secondary Teachers’ Collective Agreement, PPTA is releasing its annual staffing survey.

Chris Abercrombie, PPTA Te Wehengarua president, says the findings make sombre reading. “Far too many rangatahi are missing out on the depth of knowledge and richness that subject specialist teachers bring to the classroom. More than a third of schools that responded to the survey have teachers working in subjects they are not specialists in because they simply cannot find the teachers.

These findings come on the heels of the law change that put an end to the teachers’ pay equity claim. The outcomes of this claim would have helped address the pressures placed on schools due to the ongoing shortage of secondary teachers.

Other findings from the survey include:

• Thirty percent of teaching vacancies had no suitable applicants and 39% had only one
• A quarter of advertised vacancies could not be filled at all and 6% were filled by people with limited authority to teach (LATs)
• Almost 30% of schools have cancelled or transferred courses to distance learning because of a lack of qualified teachers
• Numbers of available day relief teachers (about six per school) are among the lowest on record since the staffing survey began about 25 years ago
• As at 15 March 2025, 34% of schools had vacancies that had not yet been advertised – the highest number on record.

While the average number of applications per teaching position is better than last year’s largely because of a significant increase in overseas applications, it is neither sustainable nor appropriate for schools to rely so heavily on teachers from overseas. “We need a healthy supply of New Zealand-trained teachers across all subjects to ensure our young people receive the education they deserve.

“One of the most tragic things is that there is a good supply of locally trained and qualified teachers here in Aotearoa New Zealand - who have left the job for better pay and conditions. Many of these teachers would return to the classroom if the salary was attractive and there was a good work/life balance.

“Secondary teaching is an immensely rewarding career – helping young people discover their strengths, their passions and skills is so invigorating. It’s also increasingly challenging, complex, and ever-changing. In bargaining we will be seeking salaries and conditions that will attract graduates to the profession and keep highly skilled and amazing teachers in the classroom.”

The survey was responded to by almost 150 principals of state secondary and area schools around Aotearoa New Zealand.

The Secondary Teachers’ Collective Agreement covers approximately 25,000 teachers in secondary schools as well as specialist technology teachers in intermediate schools and technology centres. The agreement expires on 2 July 2025.

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