Changes starting in 2026
The summary below explains key changes to PPTA Te Wehengarua Collective Agreement entitlement that take effect within the 2026 school year.
Secondary Teachers
28 January 2026
Remuneration
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The first of two base salary increases (2.5%) takes effect
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Unit values increase from $5,000 per unit to $5,500 per unit
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MMAs increase from $2,000 to $2,400,
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SMAs increase from $2,000 to $2,400
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Management allowances for teachers at Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu increase to $2,400.
Community liaison role trial
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The community liaison role trial concluded on 27 January 2026, so from 28 January 2026 eligibility to the time allowance and the $1,000 allowance will come to an end. The final report on the evaluation of the trial is due in July 2026.
31 March 2026
Payroll implementation
By this date, all pay increases that have taken effect so far under the terms of the new 2025-2027 STCA will show up on your payslips. Backpay will apply.
26 April 2026
Principal’s nominees
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Secondary teachers holding the position of Principal’s nominee become entitled to an allowance of $2,500/annum
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PN’s also become entitled to a special one hour per week time allowance for responsibilities associated with the duties. This time allowance is additional to other entitlements to non-contact time under the STCA
You can find more details about the STCA settlement at this link.
If you want to review the entire Secondary Teachers’ Collective Agreement, this is available here.
Secondary principals
28 January 2026
Remuneration
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The career structure payments of secondary principals increase by $1,500. This affects all three career stages.
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The value of the Leadership in Realising Youth Potential payment increases by $1,000. This is the first of two increases (with the second increase happening in 2027).
7 April 2026
Payroll Implementation
Education Payroll Ltd will implement the updated pay rates by this date.
7 July 2026
NCEA Change allowance due date
The second (of five) $3,000 NCEA change implementation allowance payments will be made.
5 December 2026
Roll-based salary increase
The second increase to the roll-based (U Grade) salary component takes effect (2.1%).
22 December 2026
NCEA Change allowance due date
The third (of five) NCEA change implementation allowance payments will be made.
Dates to be confirmed:
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Discussion group on hard-to-staff allowances. Dates depend on ratification dates of other education collectives that remain in bargaining (at the time of writing).
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Date to vary the SPCA to ensure principals’ rights to raise a personal grievance are preserved. This depends on the timing of the Employment Relations Amendment Bill progressing through parliament.
You can find the full copy of the Secondary Principals’ Collective Agreement at this link.
If you are interested in reviewing only the changes, please refer to Part 15 of the SPCA.
Area School Principals
28 January 2026
Remuneration
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The career structure payments of secondary principals increase by $1,500. This affects all three stages.
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The value of the area school principal payment increases by $1,000. This is the first of two increases but the only one in 2026.
Coverage
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A new definition of “area school” for the purpose of Collective Agreement coverage will apply from 28 Jan 2026.
2 April 2026
Terms of Reference for working group about composite school coverage due.
14 April 2026
Payroll implementation
Implementation date of pay changes in Education Payroll. Payslips should now reflect the updated rates. Backpay will apply.
Note: Please make sure the backpay includes pay for the NCEA change allowance as this is paid fortnightly alongside the principal’s salary under the ASPCA between 18 December 2025 and 17 June 2028 (inclusive)
18 December 2026
Roll-based salary increase
Second increase of 2.1% to roll-based salary component takes effect.
Dates to be confirmed:
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Discussion group on hard-to-staff allowances. Dates depend on ratification dates of other education collectives that remain in bargaining at the time of writing.
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Date to vary the SPCA to ensure principals’ rights to raise a personal grievance are preserved. This depends on the timing of the Employment Relations Amendment Bill progressing through parliament.
You can find a copy of the Area School Principals’ Collective Agreement at this link.
The Terms of Settlement setting out the changes from the previous Collective Agreement is appended to this document.
Community Education Collective Agreement
17 February 2026
First implementation of pay and allowance increases
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ACE and OOHMA tutors, professional supervisors, and grade (level) 2 non-teaching coordinators should be paid at the new ‘date of ratification’ pay rates.
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Grade (level) 1 and 3 non-teaching coordinators, as well as coordinator assistants will translate to the first step of their grade of the APEC (Administration Support Staff in Schools) Pay Equity claim, which has now been extended to these CECA admin roles.
28 April 2026 – 12 May 2026
Second implementation phase
For Grade (level) 1 and 3 non-teaching coordinators and coordinator assistants, backdating of the APEC settlement applies from 20 August 2021 (when the pay equity claim was raised).
CECA employees who were working on that date may have been eligible for subsequent pay increases in 2022 and 2023, based on the School Support Staff pay scale.
The pay progression increments, re-calculation of allowances, holiday pay and backdating will be paid by the Ministry of Education by 28 April 2026.
Termination pay for any affected employees will be processed by 12 May 2026.
A separate process for eligible former employees will be established by the Ministry of Education.
28 November 2026
Final pay increase of the collective agreement
All CECA roles will receive a final increase to their pay rates for this collective agreement.
Click here to find more information and see the new rates in the Collective Agreement.
Last modified on Monday, 9 February 2026 10:41