Primary teacher pay dispute 2025

The story so far

Primary teachers overwhelmingly rejected a one per cent pay rise offered in a collective agreement by the Ministry of Education, with the NZEI union saying it amounted to a pay cut.^{7 Aug 2025} Stop-work meetings began in August after pay talks stalled over an offer of three 1 per cent rises over three years, and many of the country's 1900 primary schools were expected to close for several hours.^{18 Aug 2025} The Public Service Commission then made revised offers, which Sir Brian Roche called strong and fair while saying the government had reached its fiscal limit.^{6, 7 Sep 2025} Teachers rejected an offer of between 2.7% and 4.6% over two years and moved to a strike vote, with Sir Brian Roche warning that strikes would affect students and working parents.^{8 Sep 2025} The NZEI then decided on industrial action, with about 40,000 primary teachers, principals, support staff and Ministry specialists set to strike.^{16 Sep 2025}

Latest

The Public Service Commission has announced pay offers for school teachers totalling $864 million over four years, including $449.057 million for primary teachers, and Sir Brian Roche says the primary offer is at its maximum limit.^{21 Sep 2025}

What's next

Primary teachers, principals, support staff and Ministry of Education specialists are set to strike on 23 October.^{16 Sep 2025}

Key moments

1. 7 Aug 2025Primary teachers overwhelmingly reject one per cent pay rise offer.
2. 18 Aug 2025Two-week series of one-hour stop-work meetings begins over stalled talks.
3. 6 Sep 2025Government presents revised pay offer, saying it has reached its fiscal limit.
4. 8 Sep 2025Teachers reject 2.7% to 4.6% offer and move to strike vote.
5. 16 Sep 2025About 40,000 primary staff to strike on 23 October.
6. 21 Sep 2025Commission details $864 million in teacher pay offers over four years.

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.