FAQ Answers

PPTA Membership

Membership types

There are four categories of PPTA membership:

Student membership

For any tertiary students enrolled in a secondary teacher training programme
Free

Full membership

For full-time, part-time, and relief teachers in secondary, intermediate, and area schools. It is also for members who are up to two years leave without pay from one of the above positions.
Fees are 1% of fortnightly base salary (i.e. excluding units and allowances)

Adult and community education membership

For teachers who are employed in specific adult and community education roles.
$50 per year

Honorary membership

For retired members or members who are on leave without pay for a period of more than two years.
$50 per year

How do I sign up?

Go to our Join Us page.

How do I pay my fees?

Fees are normally deducted from your salary each fortnight by payroll and paid to PPTA. Honorary members and ACE teachers pay annually by a direct payment to PPTA.

I only want to do occasional day relieving – do I have to pay the full membership fee?

Day relievers are full members for voting and participation in PPTA activities but you only pay 1% of any relieving pay you may have each fortnight. If you have no day relief during any fortnight you do not pay fees in that pay period.

I am taking leave, what happens to my PPTA membership?

If you are on leave (parental/study/sick/Leave Without Pay), i.e. not resigned from your teaching position, we can keep your status “as is” as full members are able to be on Leave Without Pay for up to two years and still maintain all the benefits of being PPTA members.  No subscriptions are payable during this period however we do need to know the dates.

Please advise membership@ppta.org.nz accordingly so that we can update our records.  If you change your dates or resign your teaching position it would be appreciated if you would let us know.  Unfortunately, subscriptions may not automatically resume so please check your payslip and advise if any problems.

I am moving schools. What happens to my PPTA membership?

Education Payroll should continue to deduct your PPTA subscriptions, however this does not always happen.  Please let membership@ppta.org.nz know when you change contracts/schools – this can also be changing contracts within the same school (e.g. becoming permanent, changing between part time and full time, renewing a fixed term position, becoming principal in the school).

How do I change my contact details?

Log in to the PPTA website via the member profile link to update your contact details, or alternatively there is an enquiry form that can be completed on the website, or email membership@ppta.org.nz

Can I remain a member of PPTA when I retire?

Yes, as an honorary member at $50.00 per annum.  You will be invoiced by PPTA.  You will need to advise us of this change in membership status. Honorary membership doesn’t allow for members to have legal/FO representation. So, for example, retired teachers who are relieving and wish to have full coverage should activate their membership as a reliever.  

Can I retain membership of Healthcare Plus after I retire from teaching?

Yes, as an honorary member at $50.00 p.a. You will be invoiced by PPTA. You will need to advise us of this change in membership status.

How do I resign from PPTA?

Resignations from PPTA should be in writing by emailing your local Field Office or membership@ppta.org.nz

Paid Union Meetings

What do I need to do if I can’t attend a Paid Union Meeting?

You can apply to your PPTA Regional Chairperson for dispensation from attending the PUM, outlining the genuine reason why.

PPTA Website

How do I log in to the PPTA website?

How do I access the My Page?

• First go to the following link https://members.ppta.org.nz/login/reset
• This will ask you to confirm your identity by checking your preferred email address. Once your email address is confirmed it will ask for your forename, surname and phone number to validate your details.
• If your details are validated (correct), then you will receive an email with a reset password link. This will allow you to change your password. You can then go to the NZPPTA My Page member login and access the My Page web page.
• The same email will also give you a link to download the smartphone app for either Apple or Android phones.
• If your details are not validated (incorrect), then you will need to contact the membership team membership@ppta.org.nz
• The link is also on the homepage of our website - top right corner ""New" My Page Login"

I can’t remember my preferred email address; what should I do?

• You will need to contact the membership team membership@ppta.org.nz

I can’t remember my phone number or don’t have a registered phone number; what should I do?

• You will need to contact the membership team membership@ppta.org.nz

Why doesn’t my current username and password work for My Page?

• As this is a completely new platform, it is a requirement to reset your details for the new platform.

How do I access the member benefits?

• On the website page, the member benefits tab is in the top menu bar.

On the phone App, the member benefits are under the “News” tab at the bottom of the App. You just need to scroll down to find the member benefits.

Registration and Certification

What is the difference between registration and certification?

Registration shows you have met the requirements to join the teaching profession in New Zealand. Once granted it doesn't expire, but it can be cancelled (for example, on grounds of serious misconduct). Registration alone doesn't allow you to lawfully work as a teacher – you also need a current practising certificate.

Practising certificates expire after three years. If you are employed in a teaching position, you need to ensure you renew your practising certificate promptly and meet all the requirements. This includes demonstrating satisfactory recent teaching experience, meeting the Standards for the Teaching Profession, agreeing to the Code of Professional Responsibility, and passing a police vet. 

More information is available on the Teaching Council website.

Do relievers need to be registered and hold a practising certificate?

Yes, or they must hold a Limited Authority to Teach (LAT). A school can employ a registered teacher without a practising certificate for up to 10 days in any one year. An untrained, unqualified person can be employed to teach provided they have a LAT.

Appointments

What should appear on a fixed-term agreement/letter of appointment?

Start date, a date or event that brings employment to an end, a genuine reason based on reasonable grounds that explains why the position is fixed term and why/how employment will end at the time specified, what the position is and how many hours the position is for, and the collective agreement you are employed under.  

For more information, see Fixed term agreements: Guidelines to the Employment Relations Act

What are common reasons for establishing a fixed-term agreement?

Relieving i.e. the position is a temporary replacement for teacher on leave or temporarily acting in a different position,

Fixed-term when the specific function you are employed for is of limited duration:

Project work (appointment ends with completion of specified project)
Appointment to a position which will not be required the following year

Fixed-term when you are not eligible for permanent appointment:

You cannot be appointed permanently because you  have a Limited Authority to Teach
You are employed while the school continues to advertise for a suitable appointment

Salary

What should my salary be?

If you are a teacher, your salary is determined by the following:

• If you have a recognised teaching qualification
• The type of subject qualification you have
• Any service credits you may be entitled to for work other than teaching
• Any recognised teaching service you have
• Any childcare credits you are entitled to
• Which collective agreement you are employed under

• Your level of experience as a principal
• The size and nature of the school you are leading
• The collective agreement you are employed under

For more, see the Secondary Principals’ Collective Agreement  or Area School Principals’ Collective Agreement

I don’t think I am being paid correctly for my qualifications and experience. Who should I contact?

Apply for a salary assessment  through your school’s Authorised Education Payroll User. You should also have a chat with your PPTA Field Officer about this. 

For more information about salary assessments, click here.

What impact does taking Leave Without Pay (LWOP)   have on my holiday pay?

Your holiday pay will only be impacted if you take six or more days of leave without pay in a school year.

From the sixth day of leave without pay, you will lose three days of holiday pay for every 10 days you are away (including weekends) during school terms.

Lost holiday pay is deducted from the final pay period of the holidays.

Will parental leave result in a loss of holiday pay when I return to work? 

Yes, unless you take five days or fewer (see leave without pay above). Please contact your field officer for guidance regarding paid annual leave entitlements.

I am on a fixed term contract for the year which ends on the 15^th of December, do I get holiday pay?

Yes. You have worked the full year, therefore holiday pay has been generated for the Christmas vacation period. Education Payrollpays this as a lump sum.

What happens to my holiday pay when I resign from teaching during the year?

Holiday pay is calculated on the amount of time that you have worked. Your Field Officer can help you with this.

Workload and Timetabling

Can I be required to do internal relief?

A full-time teacher who is at their maximum contact hours cannot usually be required to do relief. 

You should only be asked to forgo your non-contact time in a genuine emergency, and these should be rare.

If you agree to do internal relief that puts you above your maximum non-contact allocation, the school must agree to a compensation process.

If you are a full-time teacher with fewer than your maximum contact hours (20 hours per week less any additional time allowances you may have), you can be required to do internal relief to bring you to your maximum contact time in a week. This should be set out in your school’s timetable policy. See our "It's About Time!" page if your school does not have a timetable policy, or if it is revising one.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Do I have to be involved in extra-curricular activities?

No. While extra-curricular activities have always been regarded as part of the culture of secondary schools, teacher involvement is voluntary. The PPTA supports teachers who are willingly and actively engaged in extra-curricular activities, as well as those who wish to have no part in them.

Increased workload means that teachers need to balance the curriculum, administrative, and assessment demands with the time and energy required for other activities. For more information, see our Extra Curricular Activities

Call Back Days

When can call backs be used?

The ASTCA and STCA give your employer the right to require you to attend school when it is not open for instruction for five days per year for professional development, and for a further and separate five days per year for administration, preparation, communication, co-ordination, and liaison.

Your employer is required to arrange matters so that the call back is not unreasonable. This means giving reasonable notice, taking your individual needs into account, and paying any costs incurred by the you attending the call back. No callback day expenses are payable during the school term between the hours of 8.30 am and 4.30 pm. If you have concerns about call back days, please contact your PPTA Field Officer. For further information see ASTCA cl 4.7, STCA cl 5.6 , 

Teacher Help and Support

I am feeling overwhelmed, what support can I access?

If you feel comfortable doing so, talk to a colleague, your HoD, someone in your Senior Leadership team, or your guidance counsellor. Alternatively, check with your PPTA branch chair to see if your school subscribes to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).

What is EAP?

The Employee Assistance Programme is a work-based intervention designed to identify and assist employees in resolving personal problems that may be adversely affecting your performance (e.g. marital, financial, or emotional problems; family issues; substance/alcohol abuse). It is a confidential service, so the school does not know who uses it. Check with your branch chair to see if your school subscribes to EAP. The contact number is 0800 327 669. Contact your PPTA Field Officer if you need further information.

Health and Safety

Is there a legal limit to the number of students in a class?

No. Schools are required to make a genuine effort to ensure that teachers with more than one class do not have on average more than 26 students per class. If this average cannot be achieved, a compensatory process should be put in place. Check out our average class size calculator, and for further information about class size see our About Time toolkit. Note that this provision is not in the ASTCA, but is a reasonable expectation for area school teachers, too.

Schools are also required to ensure rooms are not overcrowded.

How many students should I have in a specialist room?

Classes should be limited to the number of spaces available, or dictated by the specific health and safety concerns associated with the activity, the equipment, or the room layout.

Are maximum or minimum temperatures stipulated for classrooms?

No. However, most people are comfortable between temperatures of 16 and 24 degrees and all efforts should be made to maintain temperatures within this range.

If you have concerns about your or your students’ health and safety, follow this up with your health and safety representative. It can be useful to keep records of temperature and humidity to support your claim.

What is acceptable noise in a classroom?

The school should take all practical steps to ensure that no teacher or student is exposed to noise that is going to cause hearing loss or interfere with learning. There is no official noise level for classrooms and workshops. If you have concerns about your, or the students’, health and safety follow this up with your health and safety representative. It can be useful to keep records of noise to support your claim. There are a number of free downloadable sound meter apps to enable you to do this.

Sick Leave

What is my sick leave entitlement?

See ASTCA cl 5.1 or STCA cl 6.2  

How much sick leave do I have?

Refer to your payslip in the first instance. However, payslips are not always reliable so if the amount of sick leave on the payslip does not look right contact your PPTA Field Officer. 

What happens when I run out of sick leave?

Several options are available depending on your circumstances. Contact your PPTA Field Officer.

If I am sick on a Friday and the following Monday, how many sick days are deducted?

2 days, if those are the only days you have been sick.  However, if you have been sick for more than 5 consecutive school days the weekend is included and you will have 8 days deducted from your sick leave.

If I am sick for a period of time in the term will it affect my holiday pay?

I am a part time teacher and noticed I got a full day sick leave deduction even though I would have only worked 2 hours that day, is this correct?

Yes, where a part-time teacher is absent for the hours they would have normally worked on that day they will lose a day of sick leave- even if they were not scheduled to work a whole school day. Part-time teachers will not lose sick leave for an absence that is less than 25% of the hours the teacher would normally work on that day. See ASTCA cl 5.2.3 and STCA, cl 6.2.3.  

Parental Provisions

How much parental leave am I eligible for if I have less than 12 months service? 

12 months, with the option of a further 12 months if you give 3 months’ notice of this to your employer before the first year ends.

How much parental leave am I eligible for if I have less that 12 months service?

Up to 6 months.

How much notice do I have to give to return to my position after parental leave?

1 month if it is your intention to return before the maternity leave expires.

How much notice do I have to give my employer if I intend to take the total entitlement of 24 months parental leave?

You must notify your employer in writing of your intention to take this leave within 9 months from the date of commencing parental leave.

If I am relieving for someone on parental leave, how much notice do I have to be given that the person is coming back from maternity leave?

A minimum of 1 month. Please note that if the letter of appointment does not specify an event (ie return of the teacher on leave) and instead gives the date at the end of the proposed leave, the school is bound to keep the reliever on until that date.

For  detailed  information see Parental Leave and Payments

Leave for Family Reasons

When can I take leave for family reasons?

Leave can be taken for family reasons such as serious illness, sickness in the home, reoccurring serious illness and important family and other occasions.

Family is defined as: partner, child, parent, brother or sister; and “near relative” or “relative-in-law” is restricted to: grandparents, grandchildren, mother-in-law, fathers-in-law, sons-in-law and daughters-in-law

This is discretionary so may be with or without pay. Leave to look after someone in the home who is sick may be a charge against the teacher’s sick leave.

See ASTCA cl 5.5-5.8 or STCA cl 6.4-6.6 

Special Leave

I have been granted study leave and my course does not start until 1 March/finishes before the end of the fourth term. Do I have to attend school until the course commences or if the course finishes prior to the end of the school year?

Yes, however this is at the discretion of your principal.

If called for jury duty, do I get my normal pay? What happens to the fee for service?

The employer will grant leave with pay for jury duty, see ASTCA cl 5.8.2 or STCA cl 6.6.2. You will not be entitled to receive jury service fees as well. 

Bereavement/ Tangihanga Leave

Can I be granted bereavement /tangihanga leave if I wish to pay my respects to someone other than a relative or near relative?

Yes, if there is a family or cultural tie or obligation to the person who is not a blood relative. Your field officer can advise you on whether a particular tie/obligation would be grounds to apply for paid tangihanga leave.

Teachers shall be granted leave with pay to allow a reasonable opportunity to discharge their obligations and/or to pay their respects to a deceased person with whom they have had a close association. Such obligations may exist because of blood or family ties or because of particular cultural requirements such as attendance at all or part of a tangihanga (or its equivalent). See ASTCA cl 5.4 or STCA cl 6.4 

 

Miscellaneous Leave

There has been an extreme weather event and the country road to my school is blocked by slips. Can I get leave with pay for staying at home?

Miscellaneous leave (not a cost against your sick leave) can be granted if circumstances like these prevent you from travelling to work. It is reasonable to expect that short periods of leave due to a genuine regional/national emergency preventing you from coming to school should be paid. See ASTCA cl 5.8.8(a) or STCA 6.6.9(a) 

Transfers and Removals

When am I eligible and how do I claim for removal expenses?

You are likely to be eligible if you are:

A teacher being appointed to your first permanent position
Moving to a school in another area on promotion
Moving to a hard to staff school (and eligible for the  SIA/HPTSA/APSTA)
Moving as a result of your position being disestablished through a falling roll situation

The transfer and removal payments are in 2 parts:

a lump sum payment to cover things like travel, phone connection, in-transit accommodation and meals, and school uniform changes for your children
reimbursement of accommodation and property expenses not covered by the lump sum, such as rent, mortgage penalties, and real estate and legal fees for the sale or purchase of a property

Applications are made through the Ministry of Education (link to external site).

Resigning

How much notice am I required to give if I want to resign?

Surplus Staffing

What is surplus staffing?

Surplus staffing situations happen when there are changes in a school that mean fewer staff are needed—for example if two schools merge, or if the roll declines. Some schools will have a surplus staffing and/or surplus salary unit/management situation at the end of a school year. 

PPTA supports schools and members through surplus staffing processes. Please contact your PPTA Field Officer. Your collective agreement contains provisions for what should happen if you're affected by surplus staffing.

You can find more information on surplus staffing here