We have received the following message from NZEI (teachers union) to share with our school community.

You may remember that teachers and principals took strike action twice last year to send a message to the Government that more needed to be done to fix the teacher shortage and make teaching a more sustainable and attractive profession.

After conversations with government in January, our union, NZEI Te Riu Roa, has agreed to return to formal negotiations with the Ministry. The Government has continued to state that there is no more money to settle the agreements but we are continuing to campaign for a quality public education for every child. We believe that winning more time to teach, a significant pay jolt to attract and keep people in teaching, and better resourcing for children with additional learning needs is as important as ever.

Any progress in negotiations will be reported to teachers and principals at a paid union meeting on Wednesday 20th March. These meetings will be held during school time, but as there are two meeting times we are able to do this without closing the school and we will organise alternative programmes for the short time these meetings are on. Therefore this won't impact on childcare arrangements for any of you.

Public polling has showed continued strong support for what we are trying to achieve for our students and the future of the teaching profession. Parents in particular see the struggles we already face in hiring teachers and finding relievers when teachers are sick.
We greatly appreciate your continued support as we continue our campaign to ensure every child gets the best possible teaching and learning.