Education (2026 School Staffing) Order 2025
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Version as at 23 April 2026
Education (2026 School Staffing) Order 2025
(SL 2025/163)
Rt Hon Dame Helen Winkelmann, Administrator of the Government
Order in Council
At Wellington this 4th day of August 2025
Present:
Her Excellency the Administrator of the Government in Council
Note
The Parliamentary Counsel Office has made editorial and format changes to this version using the powers under subpart 2 of Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019.
Note 4 at the end of this version provides a list of the amendments included in it.
This order is administered by the Ministry of Education.
This order is made under section 582 of the Education and Training Act 2020 on the advice and with the consent of the Executive Council.
Contents
Order
1 Title
This order is the Education (2026 School Staffing) Order 2025.
2 Commencement
This order comes into force on 5 September 2025.
3 Application
This order applies only to State schools, and only to the 2026 school year.
Part 1 Preliminary provisions
4 Purpose
(1)
The purpose of this order is, in accordance with section 582 of the Act, to limit the financial liability of the Crown arising out of its obligation under section 579 of the Act to pay the salaries of all regular teachers employed at payrolled schools.
(2)
To that end, this order prescribes limitations on the number of regular teachers who may be employed at payrolled schools during the school year to which this order applies.
5 Overview
(1)
Part 1 contains preliminary provisions.
(2)
Part 2 specifies the limitations prescribed by this order.
(3)
Part 3 sets out components of the limitations.
(4)
Part 4 requires school rolls to be estimated, ascertained, notified, and confirmed for the purposes of this order.
(5)
Part 5 contains special provisions relating to specified schools and types of schools.
(6)
Part 6 provides for exemptions from the limitations.
(7)
Part 7 revokes an earlier school staffing order.
(8)
This clause is intended only as a guide to the general scheme and effect of this order.
Interpretation
6 Interpretation: general
(1)
In this order, unless the context otherwise requires,—
Act means the Education and Training Act 2020
adjusted entitlement means the entitlement staffing that is calculated under clause 29 if, for the purposes of clause 59(2)(b), no student who is enrolled in a secondary–tertiary programme is counted on a school’s Māori-medium or non-Māori-medium roll
adjusted formula-generated allowance means the formula-generated staffing allowance that is calculated under clause 58 if, for the purposes of clause 59(2)(b), no student who is enrolled in a secondary–tertiary programme is counted on a school’s Māori-medium or non-Māori-medium roll
adjusted total regular allowance means the total regular staffing allowance that is calculated under clause 28 if, for the purposes of clause 59(2)(b), no student who is enrolled in a secondary–tertiary programme is counted on a school’s Māori-medium or non-Māori-medium roll
area school means a composite school that offers education to students in all of years 1 to 13
beginning teacher, at any time, means a registered teacher who,—
(a)
at that time, has completed less than 24 months’ teaching; and
(b)
at that time, holds a teaching position to which the teacher was appointed for a period of at least 10 weeks
BLENNZ means the Blind and Low Vision Education Network NZ
entitlement transfer agreement has the meaning set out in clause 56(1)
FTTE means full-time teacher equivalent
guaranteed minimum formula staffing, in relation to a high school or an area school, means the school’s formula-generated staffing allowance (in FTTEs) ascertained under clause 58 by reference to its provisional rolls
high school means a secondary school or a year 7 to 13 school
Māori-medium student means a student for whom the curriculum is taught in Māori for more than 12.5 hours per week
mentor teacher means a permanently appointed regular teacher who provides mentoring and support to an employment-based trainee teacher who is in an employment-based trainee teaching position
middle management allowance, in relation to a high school or an area school, means an allowance allocated by the board to a teacher who undertakes duties in the school that are recognised by the board as middle management activities
ORS means the ongoing resourcing scheme
ORS sensory student means an ORS student with high or very high learning support needs who has been verified by the Secretary as having ORS sensory needs
ORS student means a student who has been verified by the Secretary as eligible under ORS
ORS student with high needs means an ORS student who has been verified by the Secretary as having high needs
ORS student with very high needs means an ORS student who has been verified by the Secretary as having very high needs
other regular teacher means a regular teacher who is not a permanently appointed regular teacher
pastoral care allowance, in relation to a high school, a restricted composite school, or an area school, means an allowance that a board allocates to a teacher who undertakes pastoral care duties in the school
primary student means a student in any of years 1 to 8
resource teacher means a teacher who provides specialist advice, guidance, and support to students or teachers (or both), whether at the teacher’s school or other schools
restricted composite school means an intermediate school that offers education to students in any of years 7 to 10
rounded to the nearest whole number, in relation to a number that is not a whole number, means a number that—
(a)
is rounded down to the nearest whole number, if its fractional part is less than 0.5; or
(b)
is rounded up to the nearest whole number, if its fractional part is 0.5 or greater
salary unit, in relation to the holder of a teaching position at a school, means an entitlement to a salary element in addition to the salary otherwise payable to the holder, allocated to the holder by the board
secondary student means a student of year 9 or above
senior management allowance, in relation to a high school, means an allowance allocated by the board to a teacher who undertakes duties in the school that are recognised by the board as senior management activities
year 7 to 13 school means a composite school that offers education to students in any of years 7 to 13.
(2)
In this order, unless the context otherwise requires, any term or expression that is defined in the Act and used, but not defined, in this order has the same meaning as in the Act.
7 Interpretation: rolls
In this order, unless the context otherwise requires,—
Māori-medium roll means the number of a school’s Māori-medium students
March ORS list means a school’s ORS list determined by the Secretary as at 1 March 2026
March rolls means the rolls confirmed, or stated to have effect as confirmed, for a school by the Secretary under clause 65
non-Māori-medium roll means the number of a school’s students left after its Māori-medium roll has been subtracted from its roll (as determined under Part 4)
October rolls, in relation to a primary school, means the rolls estimated for the school by the Secretary under clause 66
ORS list or list means the list of ORS students who have been verified by the Secretary as either of the following:
(a)
having high needs:
(b)
having very high needs
primary roll means the number of a school’s students, if any, in years 1 to 8
provisional ORS list means a school’s ORS list determined by the Secretary as at 1 July 2025
provisional rolls means the rolls estimated for a school by the Secretary under clause 63
school roll means all the students enrolled at a school, including Māori-medium students and ORS students, and school’s roll has a corresponding meaning
secondary roll means the number of a school’s students, if any, in year 9 or above
specialist instruction roll, in relation to a school, means the number obtained by a calculation made in accordance with clause 9
total roll, in relation to a school, means the sum of a school’s primary roll (if any) and its secondary roll (if any)
weighted roll means the number obtained by a calculation made in accordance with clause 8.
8 Weighted roll
A school’s weighted roll at any time is the number obtained by adding 1 or more of the following that apply to the school:
(a)
the product of 4 and the number of any year 1 to year 3 students then on its roll:
(b)
the product of 3.5 and the number of any year 4 to year 8 students then on its roll:
(c)
the product of 7 and the number of any year 9 and year 10 students then on its roll:
(d)
the product of 9 and the number of any year 11 students then on its roll:
(e)
the product of 15 and the number of any year 12 students then on its roll:
(f)
the product of 16 and the number of any year 13 or above students then on its roll:
(g)
the product of 0.5 and the number of any year 7 and year 8 students then on its specialist instruction roll.
9 Specialist instruction roll
(1)
In this clause,—
base students are students in year 7 or year 8 who are enrolled at one school (the base school) but usually attend a different school for instruction in technology or some other specialist subject
visiting students are students in year 7 or year 8 who are enrolled at a school other than the base school but usually attend a centre attached to the base school for instruction in technology or some other specialist subject.
(2)
A base school’s specialist instruction roll is the number obtained by—
(a)
adding the number of students in year 7 and year 8 included in the base school’s provisional or March rolls (as appropriate) to the number of visiting students; and
(b)
subtracting from the resulting sum the number of base students.
Proportions of FTTE
10 Proportions of FTTE
For the purposes of this order, the employment of a teacher for—
(a)
10 half-days every full week generates 1 FTTE:
(b)
a specified number (smaller than 10) of half-days every full week generates one-tenth of that number of FTTEs:
(c)
a specified number (smaller than 20) of half-days every full fortnight generates one-twentieth of that number of FTTEs:
(d)
a specified number of teaching hours (or an average of that number of teaching hours) every full week generates one twenty-fifth of that number of FTTEs.
Years of schooling
11 Years of schooling in primary schools, area schools, or specialist schools
(1)
In the situation described in subclause (2), a student is,—
(a)
if first enrolled in a primary school, an area school, or a specialist school on or before 30 June in a particular school year, a year 1 student until the end of that school year; or
(b)
if first enrolled in a primary school, an area school, or a specialist school on or after 1 July in a particular school year, a year 1 student until the end of the following school year.
(2)
The situation is that a student first enrols at a primary school, an area school, or a specialist school before the age of 7 and is subsequently educated at primary schools, area schools, or specialist schools respectively without substantial interruption.
(3)
Any other student who enrols at a primary school, an area school, or a specialist school is, in the year in which the student first enrols at the primary school, area school, or specialist school, a student in the year level that, in the principal’s opinion, is most appropriate for a student of that student’s maturity and educational and intellectual achievements.
12 Years of schooling in intermediate schools
(1)
A student to whom clause 11(1) and (2) applies is a year 7 student in the year in which the student first enrols at an intermediate school.
(2)
Any other student who enrols at an intermediate school is, in the year in which the student first enrols at the school, a student in the year level that, in the principal’s opinion, is most appropriate for a student of that student’s maturity and educational and intellectual achievements.
13 Years of schooling in high schools
(1)
A student is a year 9 student in the year in which the student first enrols at a secondary school if the student was a primary student in the year before the year in which the student first enrols at the secondary school.
(2)
A student is a year 7 student in the year in which the student first enrols in a year 7 to 13 school if the student—
(a)
has never been enrolled at a high school; and
(b)
is enrolled as a year 6 student in the year before the year in which the student first enrols at the year 7 to 13 school.
(3)
Any other student who enrols at a high school is, in the year in which the student first enrols or again enrols at a high school, a student in the year level that, in the principal’s opinion, is most appropriate for a student of that student’s maturity and educational and intellectual achievements.
Part 2 Limitations on employment of teachers and principals
Regular teachers
14 Employment of regular teachers
(1)
The board of a school must not employ a permanently appointed regular teacher whose employment generates a number of FTTEs greater than the sum of any of the following that apply to the school:
(a)
its adjusted entitlement:
(b)
any activity centre allowance under clause 46:
(c)
any attached teen parent unit allowance under clause 47.
(2)
A board must not employ other regular teachers if the total of the FTTEs generated by their employment would exceed the number of FTTEs by which the school’s adjusted total regular allowance under clause 28 at that time exceeds the number of FTTEs generated by the employment of the permanently appointed regular teachers already then employed at the school.
(3)
The board of a primary school or an intermediate school must not employ a permanently appointed regular teacher without the consent of the Secretary if the school’s formula-generated staffing allowance, calculated in accordance with clause 58 as based on its provisional rolls, exceeds, by 1.0 or more FTTEs, its formula-generated staffing allowance based on, as the case may be,—
(a)
the primary school’s October rolls; or
(b)
the intermediate school’s March rolls.
(4)
The board of a secondary school or an area school must not employ a permanently appointed regular teacher without the consent of the Secretary if the school’s guaranteed minimum formula staffing exceeds, by 1.0 or more FTTEs, its adjusted formula-generated allowance as generated by its March rolls.
(5)
Subclauses (1) and (2) are subject to clauses 77 and 78.
15 Employment involving salary units
A board must not employ regular teachers to whom salary units have been allocated (whether permanently or otherwise) if the total of those salary units would exceed the number of salary units calculated for the school under whichever of clauses 16, 17, and 18 applies to the school.
16 Number of salary units calculated for primary schools, intermediate schools (except restricted composite schools), or specialist schools
(1)
The number of salary units for a primary school, a specialist school, or an intermediate school that is not a restricted composite school is calculated in accordance with the following formula (with the result, if not a whole number, rounded to the nearest whole number):
A = [(B − 1) × 1.28] – 1.7
where—
- A
is the number of salary units for the school
- B
is the adjusted formula-generated allowance for the school.
(2)
For a primary school, a specialist school, or an intermediate school that is not a restricted composite school and that receives an ORS staffing allowance calculated under clause 30, the number of salary units generated is calculated in accordance with the following formula (with the result, if not a whole number, rounded to the nearest whole number):
C = (D + E + F) × 1.28
where—
- C
is the number of ORS salary units for the school
- D
is the number of FTTEs of the ORS staffing allowance for the school
- E
is the number of FTTEs of the ORS management allowance for the school calculated under clause 31
- F
is the number of FTTEs, if any, of the ORS management allowance transferred to the school from another school in relation to ORS itinerant teachers.
(3)
For Ko Taku Reo, B in subclause (1) must be modified by adding the number of resource teachers: hearing identified in clause 91 before subtracting 1.
(4)
For BLENNZ, B in subclause (1) must be modified by adding the number of resource teachers: vision identified in clause 92 before subtracting 1.
(5)
For a school that has a principal who has been appointed to be the principal of 2 or more schools, the result in subclause (1) must be modified by adding 1 salary unit to A.
17 Number of salary units calculated for high schools
(1)
The number of salary units for a high school is calculated in accordance with the following formula (with the result, if not a whole number, rounded to the nearest whole number):
A = [(B − 1) × 1.241] + 9
where—
- A
is the number of salary units for the school
- B
is the adjusted formula-generated allowance for the school.
(2)
For a high school that receives an ORS staffing allowance calculated under clause 30, the number of salary units generated is calculated in accordance with the following formula (with the result, if not a whole number, rounded to the nearest whole number):
C = (D + E + F) × 1.241
where—
- C
is the number of ORS salary units for the school
- D
is the number of FTTEs of the ORS staffing allowance for the school
- E
is the number of FTTEs of the ORS management allowance for the school calculated under clause 31
- F
is the number of FTTEs, if any, of the ORS management allowance transferred to the school from another school in relation to ORS itinerant teachers.
(3)
For a high school that has a principal grading roll, calculated in accordance with clause 27 but excluding those students who are enrolled in a secondary–tertiary programme, of greater than 1,400, the result in subclause (1) must be modified by adding—
(a)
9 salary units if the principal grading roll is no greater than 1,600 excluding those students who are enrolled in a secondary–tertiary programme; or
(b)
12 salary units if the principal grading roll is greater than 1,600 excluding those students who are enrolled in a secondary–tertiary programme.
(4)
For a school that has a principal who has been appointed to be the principal of 2 or more schools, the result in subclause (1) must be modified by adding 1 salary unit.
18 Number of salary units calculated for area schools or restricted composite schools
(1)
The number of salary units for an area school is calculated in accordance with the following formula (with the result, if not a whole number, rounded to the nearest whole number):
A = [(B − 1) × 1.33] + 2.6
where—
- A
is the number of salary units for the school
- B
is the adjusted formula-generated allowance for the school.
(2)
The number of salary units for a restricted composite school is calculated in accordance with the following formula (with the result, if not a whole number, rounded to the nearest whole number):
A = [(B + C) × 1.33] + 2.6
where—
- A
is the number of salary units for the school
- B
is the school’s adjusted formula-generated allowance for its secondary roll
- C
is the school’s adjusted formula-generated allowance staffing allowance for its primary roll.
(3)
For an area school or a restricted composite school that receives an ORS staffing allowance calculated under clause 30, the number of salary units generated is calculated in accordance with the following formula (with the result, if not a whole number, rounded to the nearest whole number):
D = (E + F + G) × 1.33
where—
- D
is the number of ORS salary units for the school
- E
is the number of FTTEs of the ORS staffing allowance for the school
- F
is the number of FTTEs of the ORS management allowance for the school calculated under clause 31
- G
is the number of FTTEs, if any, of the ORS management allowance transferred to the school from another school in relation to ORS itinerant teachers.
(4)
For an area school that has a principal grading roll, calculated in accordance with clause 27 but excluding those students who are enrolled in a secondary–tertiary programme, of greater than 1,400, the result in subclause (1) must be modified by adding—
(a)
9 salary units if the principal grading roll is no greater than 1,600 excluding those students who are enrolled in a secondary–tertiary programme; or
(b)
12 salary units if the principal grading roll is greater than 1,600 excluding those students who are enrolled in a secondary–tertiary programme.
(5)
For a school that has a principal who has been appointed to be the principal of 2 or more schools, the result in subclause (1) must be modified by adding 1 salary unit.
19 Employment of specified resource teachers to whom leadership payments have been allocated
(1)
This clause applies to a board that employs 1 or more specified resource teachers.
(2)
A board must not employ specified resource teachers to whom leadership payments have been allocated (whether permanently or otherwise) if the total of those leadership payments would exceed the number of leadership payments calculated for the school under subclause (3).
(3)
The number of leadership payments is calculated for a school in accordance with the following formula (with the result, if not a whole number, rounded to the nearest whole number):
A = (B × 0.6) + 6
where—
- A
is the number of leadership payments for the school
- B
is the number of resource teachers: learning and behaviour that the Secretary allocates to the school for the 2026 school year.
(4)
In this clause,—
leadership payment, for a specified resource teacher and a board, means an entitlement to a salary element that is—
(a)
additional to the salary that is otherwise payable to the specified resource teacher; and
(b)
allocated (whether permanently or otherwise) to the specified resource teacher by the board
specified resource teachers means regular teachers who are—
(a)
resource teachers: learning and behaviour; or
(b)
resource teacher managers: learning and behaviour.
20 Employment of part-time teachers in area schools
The board of an area school must not employ a part-time teacher who is predominantly teaching years 1 to 6 for 0.9 or more of an FTTE.
21 Employment involving senior management allowances at high schools
The board of a high school must not employ regular teachers to whom senior management allowances have been allocated (whether permanently or otherwise) if the total of those allowances would exceed the number of senior management allowances calculated in accordance with the following formula (with the result, if not a whole number, rounded up to the nearest whole number):
A = [(B – 1) × 0.18] + 2
where—
- A
is the number of senior management allowances for the school
- B
is the management time allowance for the school (as determined in accordance with clause 61).
22 Employment involving middle management allowances at high schools
The board of a high school must not employ a regular teacher to whom middle management allowances have been allocated (whether permanently or otherwise) if the total of those allowances would exceed the number of middle management allowances calculated in accordance with the following formula (with the result, if not a whole number, rounded to the nearest whole number):
A = [(B – 1) × 0.6945] + 5 + C
where—
- A
is the number of middle management allowances for the school
- B
is the adjusted formula-generated allowance for the school
- C
is the number of ORS students on the ORS list divided by 5 and rounded down to the nearest whole number.
23 Employment involving middle management allowances at area schools
(1)
The board of an area school must not employ regular teachers to whom middle management allowances have been allocated (whether permanently or otherwise) if the total of those allowances would exceed the number of middle management allowances calculated in accordance with the following formula (with the result, if not a whole number, rounded to the nearest whole number):
A = (B + C + D) × 0.6
where—
- A
is the number of middle management allowances for the school
- B
is the sum calculated under clause 59(2)(b) or (4) (relating to the calculation of the curriculum delivery allowance)
- C
is the number that is obtained by the calculation in whichever of clause 59(2)(c) and (d) applies to the school
- D
is the additional guidance allowance calculated in accordance with clause 62.
(2)
For an area school that has a secondary roll greater than 59, the resulting product in subsection (1) must be modified by adding the resulting sum that is calculated in accordance with the following formula (with the result, if not a whole number, rounded to the nearest whole number):
E = (F × 0.011) + 2
where—
- E
is the resulting sum to be added to the resulting product in subclause (1)
- F
is the school’s secondary roll.
(3)
For the purposes of subclause (2), a student who is enrolled in a secondary–tertiary programme must not be counted as being on the school’s secondary roll.
Principals
24 Employment of principals
(1)
The board of a school must not employ more than 1 principal for the school at any time.
(2)
A combined board established under clause 7 of Schedule 22 of the Act must not employ more than 1 principal for each school that the combined board administers at that time.
(3)
Subclauses (1) and (2) do not prevent the appointment of a principal during the term of the principal’s predecessor in office.
25 Employment of deputy or assistant principals at primary schools and intermediate schools
(1)
The board of a primary school or an intermediate school that employs a deputy principal or an assistant principal must do so in accordance with this clause.
(2)
The maximum number of deputy or assistant principals (however described) that the board may employ is—
(a)
2, if the school has no more than 21 FTTEs; or
(b)
3, if the school has more than 21 FTTEs.
26 Employment of associate principals at high schools
(1)
A board may employ an associate principal for a school only if the school is a high school.
(2)
A board of a high school that employs an associate principal must do so in accordance with this clause.
(3)
The board—
(a)
must not employ an associate principal if the school’s roll is 1,400 or less; but
(b)
may employ 1 associate principal if the school’s roll is more than 1,400.
(4)
For the purposes of subclause (3), a student who is enrolled in a secondary–tertiary programme must not be counted when calculating the school’s roll.
27 Grades for principals
(1)
A board must not employ a principal at a grade higher than the grade specified in the first column of Schedule 1 opposite the roll range in which the school’s principal grading roll under subclause (3) lies.
(2)
However, the grade for a principal employed at a specialist school listed in any of Schedules 6 and 7 is the grade specified in the appropriate column of the applicable schedule.
(3)
The principal grading roll for a school is the greater of the following, after any applicable weighting in accordance with subclause (4) or adjustment in accordance with subclause (5):
(a)
the sum of the school’s provisional rolls, as adjusted, and its provisional ORS list; and
(b)
the sum of the school’s March ORS list and,—
(i)
for a primary school, its October rolls, as adjusted; or
(ii)
for any other school, its March rolls, as adjusted.
(4)
In determining the principal grading roll for 2026, the following weightings apply:
(a)
1 ORS student with high needs is the equivalent of 3 students:
(b)
1 ORS student with very high needs is the equivalent of 6 students.
(5)
In this clause, a reference to a roll as adjusted is a reference to that roll minus its provisional ORS list or its March ORS list, if any.
(6)
In determining the roll range for 2026, the roll of a school includes the number of students enrolled in the school’s activity centre or its approved teen parent unit, if any.
(7)
The principal’s grade for a principal appointed to be the principal of 2 or more schools is based on the combined roll of each of the schools.
Part 3 Components of limitations
Total regular staffing allowance
28 Total regular staffing allowance
A school’s total regular staffing allowance (in FTTEs) is obtained by—
(a)
adding 1 or more of the following that apply to the school:
(i)
its entitlement staffing:
(ii)
any ORS staffing allowance:
(iii)
any ORS management allowance:
(iv)
any first-time principal release allowance:
(v)
any beginning teacher allowance:
(vi)
any mentor teacher allowance:
(vii)
any head of department beginning teacher time allowance:
(viii)
any overseas teacher time allowance:
(ix)
any study support grant time allowance:
(x)
any support time allowance:
(xi)
any retrained teacher time allowance:
(xii)
any classroom release time allowance:
(xiii)
any classroom release time for permanent salary unit holders allowance:
(xiv)
any large area school additional management staffing allowance:
(xv)
any specialist classroom teacher time allowance:
(xvi)
any specialist teacher time allowance:
(xvii)
any part-time teacher allowance:
(xviii)
any activity centre allowance:
(xix)
any teen parent unit allowance:
(xx)
any Te Atakura allowance:
(xxi)
any instrumental and vocal music tuition allowance:
(xxii)
any itinerant music teacher allowance:
(xxiii)
any attached unit allowance:
(xxiv)
any pastoral care time allowance:
(xxiva)
any principal’s nominee allowance:
(xxv)
the sum of any additional entitlements arising from an entitlement transfer agreement; and
(b)
subtracting from the resulting sum any entitlements that must be deducted as a result of an entitlement transfer agreement.
Clause 28(a)(xv) paragraph number: replaced, on 23 April 2026, by clause 4(1) of the Education (2026 School Staffing) Amendment Order 2026 (SL 2026/59).
Clause 28(a)(xxiva): inserted, on 23 April 2026, by clause 4(2) of the Education (2026 School Staffing) Amendment Order 2026 (SL 2026/59).
29 Entitlement staffing
(1)
A primary school’s, an intermediate school’s, or a specialist school’s entitlement staffing as at any date in 2026 before the Secretary gives notice to the board of the March rolls is its formula-generated staffing allowance, ascertained in accordance with clause 58, based on its provisional rolls.
(2)
A primary school’s, an intermediate school’s, or a specialist school’s entitlement staffing as at any date in 2026 after the Secretary’s notice to the board of the March rolls is the greater of—
(a)
its formula-generated staffing allowance, ascertained in accordance with clause 58, based on its provisional rolls; and
(b)
its formula-generated staffing allowance, ascertained in accordance with clause 58, based on its March rolls.
(3)
A secondary or an area school’s entitlement staffing as at any date in 2026 before the Secretary gives notice to the board of the March rolls is its guaranteed minimum formula staffing.
(4)
A secondary or an area school’s entitlement staffing as at any date in 2026 after the Secretary’s notice to the board of the March rolls is the greater of—
(a)
its guaranteed minimum formula staffing; and
(b)
its formula-generated staffing allowance, ascertained in accordance with clause 58, based on its March rolls.
30 ORS staffing allowance
(1)
The ORS staffing allowance (in FTTEs), if any, of a school other than Ko Taku Reo or BLENNZ is the number of ORS students (excluding ORS sensory students) on the school’s ORS list multiplied by the following FTTEs:
(a)
0.1 for each ORS student with high needs:
(b)
0.2 for each ORS student with very high needs.
(2)
The ORS staffing allowance for each of Ko Taku Reo and BLENNZ is calculated by—
(a)
adding the number of ORS students on its ORS list and the number of ORS sensory students allocated to each school by the Secretary; and
(b)
multiplying the resulting sum by the following FTTEs:
(i)
0.1 for each ORS student with high needs:
(ii)
0.2 for each ORS student with very high needs.
31 ORS management allowance
A school’s ORS management allowance (in FTTEs), if any, is the product (correct to 2 decimal places) of 0.05 and its ORS staffing allowance (in FTTEs).
32 First-time principal release allowance
(1)
In this clause,—
qualifying principal means a principal who—
(a)
has been appointed to that position for the first time; and
(b)
is employed at the grade U1 or U2 specified in the first column of Schedule 1
qualifying release day means a release day taken by a qualifying principal for the purposes of improving their management and professional learning leadership capability.
(2)
A school that employs a qualifying principal has a first-time principal release allowance of 0.14 FTTE for each qualifying release day taken by the qualifying principal during their first 18 months of appointment, up to a maximum of 10 qualifying release days.
33 Beginning teacher allowance
(1)
In this clause, qualifying beginning teacher means a beginning teacher who—
(a)
is—
(i)
employed for 0.5 of an FTTE or more and is in the first 12 months of teaching; or
(ii)
employed full-time and is in the second 12 months of teaching; and
(b)
has been appointed for at least 10 weeks or 1 term.
(2)
A school that employs a qualifying beginning teacher who has completed less than 12 months’ teaching has a beginning teacher allowance (in FTTEs) calculated in accordance with the following formula:
A = (B × 0.2) + (C × 0.1)
where—
- A
is the beginning teacher allowance (in FTTEs)
- B
is the number of qualifying beginning teachers, if any, then employed at the school full-time in their first 12 months of teaching
- C
is the number of other qualifying beginning teachers, if any, then employed at the school in their first 12 months of teaching.
(3)
A school that employs a qualifying beginning teacher who has completed 12 months’ teaching has a beginning teacher allowance (in FTTEs) calculated in accordance with the following formula:
D = E + (F × 0.1)
where—
- D
is the beginning teacher allowance (in FTTEs)
- E
is the resulting sum in subclause (2)
- F
is the number of qualifying beginning teachers, if any, then employed full-time at the school in their first 12 months of teaching.
34 Head of department beginning teacher time allowance for high schools and area schools
(1)
A high school that employs qualifying beginning teachers who have completed less than 24 months’ teaching has a head of department beginning teacher time allowance (in FTTEs) calculated in accordance with the following formula:
A = (B + C) × 0.04
where—
- A
is the head of department beginning teacher time allowance (in FTTEs)
- B
is the number of qualifying beginning teachers, if any, then employed at the school full-time in their first 24 months of teaching
- C
is the number of other qualifying beginning teachers, if any, then employed at the school in their first 24 months of teaching.
(2)
An area school that employs qualifying beginning teachers who have completed less than 12 months’ teaching has a head of department beginning teacher time allowance (in FTTEs) calculated in accordance with the following formula:
A = (B + C) × 0.04
where—
- A
is the head of department beginning teacher time allowance (in FTTEs)
- B
is the number of qualifying beginning teachers, if any, then employed at the school full-time in their first 12 months of teaching
- C
is the number of other qualifying beginning teachers, if any, then employed at the school in their first 12 months of teaching.
(3)
In this clause, qualifying beginning teacher has the meaning given to it in clause 33(1).
35 Mentor teacher allowance
If a board employs an employment-based trainee teacher in an employment-based trainee teaching position and the trainee teacher is employed for 0.8 or more of an FTTE and is in the first or second 12 months of teaching, the mentor teacher allowance is calculated in accordance with the following formula:
A = (B × 0.2) + (C × 0.1)
where—
- A
is the mentor teacher allowance (in FTTEs)
- B
is the number of employment-based trainee teachers in their first 12 months of teaching
- C
is the number of employment-based trainee teachers in their second 12 months of teaching.
36 Support time allowance
(1)
A school has a support time allowance of 0.05 of an FTTE for each of the following that it employs full-time:
(a)
resource teacher: hearing:
(b)
resource teacher: vision.
(2)
A school that hosts a teen parent unit or an activity centre has a support time allowance of 0.05 of an FTTE for each teacher it employs full-time at the unit or centre.
37 Retrained teacher time allowance
(1)
In this clause, qualifying retrained teacher means a teacher who—
(a)
has completed, or is about to complete, a course of teacher retraining approved by the Secretary; and
(b)
has less than 12 months’ teaching experience after retraining; and
(c)
has been appointed for at least 10 weeks or 1 term.
(2)
A school that employs a qualifying retrained teacher has a retrained teacher time allowance,—
(a)
in respect of a full-time teacher, of 0.2 of an FTTE for a maximum period of 1 year:
(b)
in respect of part-time teacher who is 0.5 to 0.9 of an FTTE, of 0.1 of an FTTE for a maximum period of 1 year.
(3)
A retrained teacher time allowance is not payable in respect of a qualifying retrained teacher who is employed less than 0.5 of an FTTE.
38 Overseas teacher time allowance for high schools and area schools
(1)
In this clause, qualifying overseas-trained teacher means a teacher—
(a)
who—
(i)
has qualifications that are recognised for New Zealand teacher registration; and
(ii)
has been appointed to their first teaching position in a New Zealand State or State integrated school; and
(iii)
has completed less than 12 months’ teaching in a New Zealand State or State integrated school; and
(iv)
has been employed full-time from within the school’s total regular staffing allowance; and
(v)
has been appointed for a minimum of 20 weeks; and
(b)
in respect of whom the school employing the teacher has not, in the 2026 school year, been eligible for the beginning teacher time allowance.
(2)
A high school or an area school that employs a qualifying overseas-trained teacher has an overseas teacher time allowance in respect of that teacher of 0.1 FTTE for a maximum period of 20 weeks.
39 Overseas teacher time allowance for schools other than high schools and area schools
(1)
In this clause, qualifying overseas-trained teacher means a teacher—
(a)
who—
(i)
has qualifications that are recognised for New Zealand teacher registration; and
(ii)
has been appointed to their first teaching position in a New Zealand State or State integrated school; and
(iii)
has completed less than 10 weeks’ teaching in a New Zealand State or State integrated school; and
(iv)
has been employed full-time from within the school’s total regular staffing allowance; and
(v)
has been appointed for at least 10 weeks or 1 term; and
(b)
in respect of whom the school employing the teacher has not, in the 2026 school year, been eligible for the beginning teacher time allowance.
(2)
A school other than a high school or an area school that employs a qualifying overseas-trained teacher has an overseas teacher time allowance in respect of that teacher of 0.1 FTTE for a maximum period of 10 weeks.
40 Study support grant time allowance for schools
A school’s study support grant time allowance, if any, is 0.16 of an FTTE for each teacher employed by the school who holds a study support grant awarded by the Ministry.
41 Classroom release time allowance
(1)
A primary school’s, an intermediate school’s, or a specialist school’s classroom release time allowance (in FTTEs), if any, is calculated in accordance with the following formula:
A = (B + C + D + E + F + G – H – 1.0) × 0.1
where—
- A
is classroom release time allowance (in FTTEs) for the school
- B
is the entitlement staffing for the school
- C
is the ORS staffing allowance for the school
- D
is the ORS management allowance for the school
- E
is the number of FTTEs represented by any senior teacher appointed in accordance with clause 88 to carry out special functions at the school (if a normal school)
- F
the number of FTTEs represented by any supernumerary teachers who have elected to be redeployed in the school or approved for redeployment from another school
- G
the sum of any additional entitlements arising from an entitlement transfer agreement
- H
the sum of any entitlements that must be deducted as a result of an entitlement transfer agreement.
(2)
If the result of (B + C + D + E + F + G – H – 1.0) in subclause (1) is not a whole number and does not have a fractional part of 0.8 or more, the result must be rounded down to the nearest whole number before being multiplied by 0.1.
(3)
A year 7 to 13 or a restricted composite school’s classroom release time allowance (in FTTEs), if any, is calculated in accordance with the following formula:
A = (B + C + D) × E
where—
- A
is classroom release time allowance (in FTTEs) for the school
- B
is the sum obtained by adding the calculations required by clause 59(2)(a) and (e), adjusted in accordance with clause 60, to determine the school’s curriculum delivery allowance (rounded up to 1 decimal place, if not exactly divisible by 0.1)
- C
is the product (rounded down to 1 decimal place, if not exactly divisible by 0.1) of—
(a)
the quotient obtained by dividing the sum of the items in clause 8(a), (b), and (g) that apply to the school by its weighted roll; and
(b)
the sum of the items, in relation to the school, in clause 61(2)(a) and (b)
- D
is the product (rounded down to 1 decimal place, if not exactly divisible by 0.1) of—
(a)
the quotient obtained by dividing the school’s primary roll by its total roll; and
(b)
the number in clause 61(3) that applies to the school
- E
is 0.04 (if the calculation relates to a year 7 to 13 school) or 0.1 (if the calculation relates to a restricted composite school).
(4)
If the result of (B + C + D) in subclause (3) is not a whole number and does not have a fractional part of 0.8 or more, the result must be rounded down to the nearest whole number before being multiplied by E.
(5)
An area school’s classroom release time allowance (in FTTEs), if any, is calculated in accordance with the following formula:
A = [(B + C + D) × 0.04] + [(E + F + G) × 0.06]
where—
- A
is the classroom release time allowance (in FTTEs) for the school
- B
is the sum obtained by adding the calculation required by clause 59(2)(a), adjusted in accordance with clauses 59(2)(e) and 60, to determine the school’s curriculum delivery allowance (rounded up to 1 decimal place, if not exactly divisible by 0.1)
- C
is the product (rounded down to 1 decimal place, if not exactly divisible by 0.1) of—
(a)
the quotient obtained by dividing the sum of the items in clause 8(a), (b), and (g) that apply to the school by its weighted roll; and
(b)
the sum of the items, in relation to the school, in clause 61(2)(a) and (b)
- D
is the product (rounded down to 1 decimal place, if not exactly divisible by 0.1) of—
(a)
the quotient obtained by dividing the school’s primary roll by its total roll; and
(b)
the number in clause 61(3) that applies to the school
- E
is the number obtained by making the calculation required by clause 59(2)(a), but only as the items apply to the school’s year 1 to 6 students, adjusted in accordance with clause 60, to determine the school’s curriculum delivery allowance (rounded up to 1 decimal place, if not exactly divisible by 0.1)
- F
is the product (rounded down to 1 decimal place, if not exactly divisible by 0.1) of—
(a)
the quotient obtained by dividing the sum of the items in clause 8(a) and (b), but only as they apply to the school’s year 1 to 6 students, by its weighted roll; and
(b)
the sum of the items, in relation to the school, in clause 61(2)(a) and (b)
- G
the product (rounded down to 1 decimal place, if not exactly divisible by 0.1) of—
(a)
the quotient obtained by dividing the school’s year 1 to 6 roll by its total roll; and
(b)
the number in clause 61(3) that applies to the school.
(6)
If the resulting sum of—
(a)
(B + C + D) in subclause (3) is not a whole number and does not have a fractional part of 0.8 or more, the resulting sum must be rounded down to the nearest whole number before being multiplied by 0.04:
(b)
(E + F + G) in subclause (5) is not a whole number, the resulting sum must be rounded down to the nearest whole number before being multiplied by 0.06.
(7)
For the purposes of subclauses (3) and (5), a student who is enrolled in a secondary–tertiary programme must not be counted as being on an area or year 7 to 13 school’s weighted roll or total roll.
42 Classroom release time allowance for permanent salary unit holders
(1)
A primary school, an intermediate school, a specialist school, or a restricted composite school classroom release time allowance for permanent salary unit holders (in FTTEs), if any, is calculated in accordance with the following formula (with the result rounded to 2 decimal places):
A = B × 0.04
where—
- A
is the release time allowance for permanent salary unit holders (in FTTEs)
- B
is the number of regular teachers at the school who hold at least 1 permanent salary unit.
(2)
An area school’s classroom release time allowance for permanent salary unit holders (in FTTEs), if any, is calculated in accordance with the following formula (with the result rounded to 2 decimal places):
A = B × 0.04 × 0.65
where—
- A
is the release time allowance for permanent salary unit holders (in FTTEs)
- B
is the number of regular teachers at the school who hold at least 1 permanent salary unit and are predominantly teaching years 1 to 6.
43 Large area school additional management staffing allowance
(1)
An area school with a provisional or March roll of 750 or more has a large area school additional management staffing allowance of 2 FTTEs.
(2)
For the purposes of this clause, a student who is enrolled in a secondary–tertiary programme must not be counted as being on an area school’s provisional or March roll.
44 Specialist classroom teacher time allowance for high schools
(1)
For a high school with a provisional roll of 1,200 or fewer students, the high school’s specialist classroom teacher time allowance, if any, is 0.16 of an FTTE.
(2)
For a high school with a provisional roll of more than 1,200 students, the high school’s specialist classroom teacher time allowance, if any, is 0.32 of an FTTE.
(3)
For the purposes of this clause, a student who is enrolled in a secondary–tertiary programme must not be counted as being on a high school’s provisional roll.
45 Specialist teacher time allowance for area schools
(1)
For an area school with a roll of fewer than 100 students, the area school’s specialist teacher time allowance, if any, is 0.08 of an FTTE.
(2)
For an area school with a roll of 100 or more students, the area school’s specialist teacher time allowance, if any, is 0.16 of an FTTE.
(3)
For the purposes of this clause, a student who is enrolled in a secondary–tertiary programme must not be counted as being on an area school’s roll.
46 Activity centre allowance for high schools
A high school’s activity centre allowance is the number of FTTEs and salary units specified in the second and third columns of Schedule 2 opposite the school’s name in the first column.
47 Teen parent unit allowance for schools
A school with a teen parent unit is entitled to a staffing allowance of the number of FTTEs and salary units shown in the second and third columns of Schedule 3 opposite the number in the first column that accords with the approved maximum roll of that school’s teen parent unit.
48 Te Atakura allowance for high schools and area schools
A high school’s or an area school’s Te Atakura allowance (in FTTEs), if any, is the product of 0.5 and the number of permanently employed teachers (other than beginning teachers) employed at the school in the teaching of te reo Māori who, before 1993, successfully completed training at a college of education under the Te Atakura scheme.
49 Instrumental and vocal music tuition allowance for high schools, area schools, and restricted composite schools
(1)
A high school’s or an area school’s instrumental and vocal music tuition allowance (in FTTEs) is calculated in accordance with the following formula (rounded to 2 decimal places):
A = (B + C) × 0.001
where—
- A
is the instrumental and vocal music tuition allowance (in FTTEs) for the school
- B
is the school’s secondary roll
- C
is the number of year 7 and year 8 students (if any) enrolled at the school.
(2)
A restricted composite school’s instrumental and vocal music tuition allowance (in FTTEs) is calculated in accordance with the following formula (rounded to 2 decimal places):
A = B × 0.001
where—
- A
is the instrumental and vocal music tuition allowance (in FTTEs) for the school
- B
is the school’s secondary roll.
(3)
For the purposes of this clause, a student who is enrolled in a secondary–tertiary programme must not be counted as being on a school’s secondary roll.
50 Itinerant music teacher allowance for high schools
A high school to which a full-time permanently appointed itinerant teacher of a musical instrument is attached has an itinerant music teacher allowance (in FTTEs) of—
(a)
0.1, if 1 teacher is attached:
(b)
0.2, if 2 teachers are attached:
(c)
0.3, if 3 or 4 teachers are attached:
(d)
0.4, if 5 or more teachers are attached.
51 Attached unit allowance for specialist schools
A specialist school’s attached unit allowance, if any, is the number of FTTEs and salary units specified in the third and fourth columns of Schedule 4 opposite its name and the name of its attached unit in the first and second columns of that schedule.
52 Pastoral care allowance for high schools
(1)
If the equity index of a high school is less than 400, the school’s pastoral care allowance (in FTTEs), if any, is calculated in accordance with the following formula:
A = B × 0.25
where—
- A
is the pastoral care allowance (in FTTEs)
- B
is the product of the school’s roll multiplied by 0.00328 (rounded up to the nearest whole number).
(2)
If the equity index of a high school is greater than or equal to 400, the school’s pastoral care allowance (in FTTEs), if any, is calculated in accordance with the following formula:
A = (B × C) × 0.25
where—
- A
is the pastoral care allowance (in FTTEs)
- B
is the product of the school’s roll multiplied by 0.00328
- C
is the square of the quotient of the school’s equity index divided by 400
- B × C
is rounded up to the nearest whole number.
(3)
For the purposes of the calculations in this clause, adult students must be excluded from the school’s roll.
53 Pastoral care allowance for restricted composite schools
(1)
If the equity index of a restricted composite school is less than 400, the school’s pastoral care allowance (in FTTEs), if any, is calculated in accordance with the following formula:
A = B × 0.25
where—
- A
is the pastoral care allowance (in FTTEs)
- B
is the product of the sum of the school’s year 9 and 10 roll multiplied by 0.00328 (rounded up to the nearest whole number).
(2)
If the equity index of a restricted composite school is greater than or equal to 400, the school’s pastoral care allowance (in FTTEs), if any, is calculated in accordance with the following formula:
A = (B × C) × 0.25
where—
- A
is the pastoral care allowance (in FTTEs)
- B
is the product of the sum of the school’s year 9 and 10 roll multiplied by 0.00328
- C
is the square of the quotient of the school’s equity index divided by 400
- B × C
is rounded up to the nearest whole number.
(3)
For the purposes of the calculations in this clause, adult students must be excluded from the year 9 and 10 roll of the school.
54 Pastoral care allowance for area schools
(1)
If the year 7 to 13 roll of an area school is greater than or equal to 500 and its equity index number is less than 400, the school’s pastoral care allowance (in FTTEs), if any, is calculated in accordance with the following formula:
A = (B + 8) × 0.25
where—
- A
is the pastoral care allowance (in FTTEs)
- B
is the product of the school’s year 7 and 13 roll multiplied by 0.0034 (rounded up to the nearest whole number).
(2)
If the year 7 to 13 roll of an area school is greater than or equal to 500 and its equity index number is greater than or equal to 400, the school’s pastoral care allowance (in FTTEs), if any, is calculated in accordance with the following formula:
A = [(B × C) + 8] × 0.25
where—
- A
is the pastoral care allowance (in FTTEs)
- B
is the product of the school’s year 7 and 13 roll multiplied by 0.0034
- C
is the square of the quotient of the school’s equity index divided by 400
- B × C
is rounded up to the nearest whole number.
(3)
If the year 7 to 13 roll of an area school is less than 500 and its equity index number is less than 400, the school’s pastoral care allowance (in FTTEs), if any, is calculated in accordance with the following formula:
A = B × 0.25
where—
- A
is the pastoral care allowance (in FTTEs)
- B
is the product of the school’s year 7 and 13 roll multiplied by 0.0167 (rounded up to the nearest whole number).
(4)
If the year 7 to 13 roll of an area school is less than 500 and its equity index number is greater than or equal to 400, the school’s pastoral care allowance (in FTTEs), if any, is calculated in accordance with the following formula:
A = (B × C) × 0.25
where—
- A
is the pastoral care allowance (in FTTEs)
- B
is the product of the school’s year 7 and 13 roll multiplied by 0.0167
- C
is the square of the quotient of the school’s equity index divided by 400
- B × C
is rounded up to the nearest whole number.
(5)
For the purposes of the calculations in this clause, adult students must be excluded from the year 7 and 13 roll of the school.
55 Part-time teacher allowance
(1)
A high school’s part-time teacher allowance (in FTTEs) is calculated in accordance with the following formula:
A = (B × 0.01584) + 0.1
where—
- A
is the part-time teacher allowance (in FTTEs)
- B
is the school’s entitlement staffing.
(2)
A restricted composite school’s part-time teacher allowance (in FTTEs) is calculated in accordance with the following formula:
A = [(B ÷ C) × (D × 0.01584)] + 0.1
where—
- A
is the part-time teacher allowance (in FTTEs)
- B
is the sum of the school’s year 9 and 10 roll
- C
is the school’s total roll
- D
is the school’s entitlement staffing.
(3)
An area school’s part-time teacher allowance (in FTTEs) is calculated in accordance with the following formula:
A = [(B ÷ C) × (D × 0.026)] + 0.1
where—
- A
is the part-time teacher allowance (in FTTEs)
- B
is the sum of the school’s year 7 to 13 roll
- C
is the school’s total roll
- D
is the school’s entitlement staffing.
(4)
A part-time teacher allowance calculated in accordance with a formula specified in this clause must be rounded to 2 decimal places.
(5)
In this clause, part-time teacher includes an itinerant teacher of music.
55A Principal’s nominee allowance
(1)
A high school or a specialist school to which NZQA has granted consent to assess against standards has an allowance of 0.04 FTTE for the teacher nominated by the school’s principal to be responsible for the assessment process.
(2)
If the principal’s nominee role is shared, the allowance may not exceed 0.04 FTTE in total.
Clause 55A: inserted, on 23 April 2026, by clause 5 of the Education (2026 School Staffing) Amendment Order 2026 (SL 2026/59).
Adjustments to schools’ total regular staffing entitlements through transfer of staffing entitlements between schools
56 Transfer of staffing entitlements
(1)
In this order,—
entitlement transfer agreement means a written agreement between the boards of school A and school B to the effect that—
(a)
school A will relinquish entitlements to school B, where the entitlements comprise either or both of the following:
(i)
a specified number of FTTEs or salary units, or both, of teacher entitlements:
(ii)
a specified number of middle management allowances or senior management allowances, or both (management allowances); and
(b)
school B will use the entitlements to sustain the employment at school B of 1 or more teachers to teach 1 or more specified subjects to students enrolled at school A
school A means the school relinquishing the entitlements
school B means the school receiving the entitlements.
(2)
If an entitlement transfer agreement under this clause is given to the Secretary before 1 January 2026,—
(a)
the Secretary must deduct from the total regular staffing allowance of school A the number of FTTEs or salary units, or the number of management allowances, specified in the agreement; and
(b)
the Secretary must add to the total regular staffing allowance of school B the number of FTTEs or salary units, or the number of management allowances, specified in the agreement.
(3)
A school must not enter into an entitlement transfer agreement relating to tuition in technology or another specialist subject.
(4)
A school may enter into an entitlement transfer agreement relating to instrumental or vocal music tuition with only 1 of the secondary schools or high schools listed in the first column of Schedule 5.
(5)
A school listed in the first column of Schedule 5 must not, under entitlement transfer agreements entered into with 1 or more other schools for the 2026 school year, receive a total number of FTTEs of teacher entitlements relating to instrumental or vocal music tuition that exceeds the number of FTTEs specified in the second column of that schedule opposite the name of the school.
(6)
A school must not enter into an entitlement transfer agreement that would transfer middle management allowances to a primary school or a specialist school.
(7)
A school must not enter into an entitlement transfer agreement that would transfer senior management allowances to a primary school, a specialist school, or an area school.
(8)
An agreement between 3 or more schools about the relinquishment and use of entitlements must be treated as a number of entitlement transfer agreements between various pairs of those schools.
57 Application of clause 56 to ORS
Clause 56 applies to entitlements in relation to ORS teachers in the same way as it applies to entitlements in relation to other teachers.
Formula-generated staffing allowance
58 Formula-generated staffing allowance
59 Curriculum delivery allowance
(1)
A school’s curriculum delivery allowance (in FTTEs) is the sum obtained by adding each of the items in subclause (2) that apply to the school and, if the resulting sum is not exactly divisible by 0.1, rounding it up to 1 decimal place.
(2)
The items are, in relation to a school,—
(a)
if it has a primary roll, the greater of 1 and the sum of—
(i)
the number of any students in year 1 on its Māori-medium roll divided by 15; and
(ii)
the number of any students in year 1 on its non-Māori-medium roll divided by 15; and
(iii)
the number of any students in years 2 and 3 on its Māori-medium roll divided by 18; and
(iv)
the number of any students in years 2 and 3 on its non-Māori-medium roll divided by 23; and
(v)
the number of any students in years 4 to 8 on its Māori-medium roll divided by 18; and
(vi)
the number of any students in years 4 to 8 on its non-Māori-medium roll divided by 28:
(b)
if it has a secondary roll, the sum of—
(i)
the number of any students in years 9 and 10 on its Māori-medium roll divided by 20; and
(ii)
the number of any students in years 9 and 10 on its non-Māori-medium roll divided by 23.5; and
(iii)
the number of any students in year 11 on its Māori-medium roll divided by 20; and
(iv)
the number of any students in year 11 on its non-Māori-medium roll divided by 23; and
(v)
the number of any students in year 12 on its Māori-medium roll divided by 18; and
(vi)
the number of any students in year 12 on its non-Māori-medium roll divided by 18; and
(vii)
the number of any students in year 13 or above on its Māori-medium roll divided by 17; and
(viii)
the number of any students in year 13 or above on its non-Māori-medium roll divided by 17:
(c)
if it has a secondary roll and that roll is 200 or less, the number obtained by—
(i)
multiplying that roll by 0.0035; and
(ii)
adding 0.5 to the resulting product; and
(iii)
multiplying the resulting sum by the number of levels of full-time secondary students (to a maximum of 5) on its secondary roll:
(d)
if it has a secondary roll and that roll is greater than 200, the product of 1.2 and the number of levels of full-time secondary students (to a maximum of 5) on its secondary roll:
(e)
the quotient obtained by dividing its specialist instruction roll (if any) by 120.
(3)
In this clause, number of levels of full-time secondary students means the number of years from years 9 to 13 at which the number of students enrolled in that year is greater than 0, where the roll for year 13 is taken as the sum of the rolls for years 13 to 15.
(4)
For the purposes of subclause (2)(b), a student who is enrolled in a secondary–tertiary programme must not be counted as being on a school’s Māori-medium or non-Māori-medium roll.
(5)
This clause is subject to clause 60.
60 Adjustments to calculation of curriculum delivery allowance for any school with primary roll
(1)
For a school with a primary roll of 176 or more, if the sum referred to in clause 59(2)(a) is less than 7, the sum must be replaced by 7.
(2)
For a school that has a primary roll that is less than 176, if the sum referred to in clause 59(2)(a) does not result in a quotient of 25 or smaller when the school’s primary roll is divided by the sum’s integer value, the sum must be increased to the first whole number that will ensure that the quotient obtained is 25 or smaller.
61 Management time allowance
(1)
A school’s management time allowance (in FTTEs) is the sum obtained by adding each of the items in subclause (2) that apply to the school to the number in subclause (3) that applies to the school and, if the resulting sum is not exactly divisible by 0.1, rounding it down to 1 decimal place.
(2)
The items, in relation to a school, are—
(a)
the product of 0.0003 and its weighted roll:
(b)
the product of 0.017 and the square root of its weighted roll:
(c)
0.1, if the sum of paragraphs (a) and (b) is less than 0.1.
(3)
The number is—
(a)
0.2, if the school’s roll is 28 or less; or
(b)
0.3, if the school’s roll is 29 or more but less than 61; or
(c)
0.4, if the school’s roll is 61 or more but less than 93; or
(d)
0.5, if the school’s roll is 93 or more but less than 124; or
(e)
0.6, if the school’s roll is 124 or more but less than 156; or
(f)
0.7, if the school’s roll is 156 or more but less than 187; or
(g)
0.8, if the school’s roll is 187 or more but less than 219; or
(h)
0.9, if the school’s roll is 219 or more but less than 250; or
(i)
1.0, if the school’s roll is 250 or more.
(4)
For the purposes of subclause (3), a restricted composite school’s roll is the sum of the number of students, if any, enrolled in years 7 to 10 at the school.
(5)
For the purposes of subclause (2), a student who is enrolled in a secondary–tertiary programme must not be counted as being on a school’s weighted roll.
62 Additional guidance allowance for high schools, area schools, restricted composite schools, and specialist schools
If roll is less than 201
(1)
The additional guidance allowance (in FTTEs) of a high school, an area school, a restricted composite school, or a specialist school is, if its secondary roll is less than 201, the number, correct to 1 decimal place, obtained by—
(a)
multiplying that roll by 0.00185; and
(b)
adding 0.08 to the resulting product; and
(c)
multiplying the resulting sum by the number of levels of full-time secondary students (to a maximum of 5) on its secondary roll.
If roll is 201 or more but less than 451
(2)
The additional guidance allowance (in FTTEs) of a high school, an area school, a restricted composite school, or a specialist school is, if its secondary roll is 201 or more but less than 451, the product, correct to 1 decimal place, of 0.45 and the number of levels of full-time secondary students (to a maximum of 5) on its secondary roll.
If roll is 451 or more
(3)
The additional guidance allowance (in FTTEs) of a high school, an area school, a restricted composite school, or a specialist school is, if its secondary roll is 451 or more, the number, correct to 1 decimal place, that is obtained by—
(a)
multiplying the number of levels of full-time secondary students (to a maximum of 5) by 0.45; and
(b)
adding 0.4 to the resulting product.
(4)
In this clause, number of levels of full-time secondary students has the meaning given to it in clause 59(3).
Part 4 Rolls
Rolls estimated and notified
63 Secretary must estimate and notify provisional rolls
(1)
Before 30 September 2025, the Secretary must give the board of every school written notice of the rolls estimated for that school under subclause (2), (3), or (4) (as the case may be).
(2)
The Secretary must estimate the roll and Māori-medium roll of every primary school as at 10 October 2026.
(3)
The Secretary must estimate the roll and Māori-medium roll of every intermediate school, restricted composite school, high school, and specialist school as at 1 March 2026.
(4)
The Secretary must estimate the roll and Māori-medium roll of every area school by adding the Secretary’s estimate of the number of year 1 students or year 1 Māori-medium students as at 10 October 2026 and the number of year 2 to year 15 students or year 2 to year 15 Māori-medium students as at 1 March 2026.
(5)
A board may request a review of the roll notified by the Secretary.
(6)
If a review is requested by the board, the Secretary must review the estimate of the roll and—
(a)
confirm it as the provisional roll; or
(b)
amend it and confirm the amended roll as the provisional roll.
Ascertaining, notifying, and confirming March rolls and October rolls from March 2026 onwards
64 Board must ascertain and notify March rolls
As soon as practicable after 1 March 2026, the board of every school must give the Secretary, in the form and manner determined by the Secretary, written notice of the school’s roll and Māori-medium roll as at 1 March 2026.
65 Secretary must confirm March rolls
(1)
If the Secretary is satisfied that the rolls notified by the board are accurate, the Secretary must give the board written notice that,—
(a)
for any school other than an area school, the numbers notified will have effect as the school’s confirmed rolls; or
(b)
for an area school, the numbers notified, with the addition of eleven-twelfths of the number of year 1 students and year 1 Māori-medium students (rounded up to the nearest whole number if it is not already a whole number), will have effect as the school’s confirmed rolls.
(2)
If the Secretary is not satisfied that the numbers notified are accurate, or if the Secretary did not receive the board’s notice, the Secretary must give the board written notice of the Secretary’s estimate of the school’s roll and Māori-medium roll as at 1 March 2026 and state that,—
(a)
for any school other than an area school, the estimate will have effect as the school’s confirmed rolls; or
(b)
for an area school, the estimate, with the addition of eleven-twelfths of the number of year 1 students and year 1 Māori-medium students (rounded up to the nearest whole number if it is not already a whole number), will have effect as the school’s confirmed rolls.
66 Secretary must estimate October rolls
(1)
As soon as practicable after 10 March 2026, the Secretary must give the board of every primary school written notice of the school’s roll and Māori-medium roll estimated for that school as at 10 October 2026.
(2)
The Secretary’s estimate of the school’s 10 October 2026 roll must not be less than the number obtained by adding the non-Māori-medium roll component of its March rolls and eleven-twelfths of the number of year 1 students in that component (rounded up to the nearest whole number if it is not already a whole number).
(3)
The Secretary’s estimate of the school’s 10 October 2026 Māori-medium roll must not be less than the number obtained by adding the non-Māori-medium roll component of its March rolls and eleven-twelfths of the number of year 1 students in that component (rounded up to the nearest whole number if it is not already a whole number).
(4)
Before giving notice under subclause (1), the Secretary must consider the notice provided by the board under clause 64.
How certain types of students are treated for purposes of determining rolls
67 Certain international students not counted
An international student must not be included in any roll or ORS list for the purposes of this order unless the student—
(a)
is of a kind or description exempted (under a notice under section 522 of the Act) from paying all of the amount required to be paid by section 521 of the Act; or
(b)
has been or is to be paid, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, all of the amount required to be paid by section 521 of the Act.
68 Part-time students enrolled in high schools or in area schools
(1)
Every part-time student enrolled or to be enrolled at a high school or an area school must be treated as a fraction of a full-time student calculated, for each year level, by dividing by 20 the number of hours of tuition the student receives or is to receive in a normal week.
(2)
If the resulting product for a year level is not a whole number, it must be rounded up to the nearest whole number.
(3)
Clause 67 overrides subclause (1).
69 Secondary students enrolled in combined secondary–tertiary courses
(1)
Every secondary student enrolled in a combined secondary–tertiary course must be treated as a fraction of a full-time student calculated in accordance with the following formula:
A = B ÷ (B + C)
where—
- A
is the fraction of a full-time student calculation result
- B
is the average number of hours of secondary schooling tuition the student receives or is to receive in a week
- C
is the average number of tertiary learning hours the student receives or is to receive in a week.
(2)
For the purposes of this clause, combined secondary–tertiary course means a course of combined secondary and tertiary education for a secondary student that the Secretary has, by notice in writing to the school where the student is enrolled, approved as a course to which this clause applies.
Part 5 Provisions relating to specified schools or types of school
Application of Parts 3 and 4 to schools listed in Schedules 6 to 8
70 Provisions in Parts 3 and 4 that apply to schools in this Part
(1)
A specialist school listed in any of Schedules 6 to 8 has 1 or more of the following allowances and entitlements that apply to the school:
(a)
any ORS staffing allowance calculated under clause 30:
(b)
any ORS management allowance calculated under clause 31:
(c)
any beginning teacher allowance calculated under clause 33:
(d)
any overseas teacher time allowance determined under clause 39:
(e)
any classroom release time allowance calculated under clause 41:
(f)
any classroom release time for permanent salary unit holders calculated under clause 42:
(g)
any attached unit allowance under clause 51:
(h)
any entitlements arising from an entitlement transfer agreement under clause 56.
(2)
Except as provided in subclause (1) and in clauses 56 and 57, Parts 3 and 4 do not apply to a specialist school that is listed in any of Schedules 6 to 8.
Entitlement staffing, principal’s grade, and salary units of schools listed in Schedules 6 to 8
71 Specialist schools for Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children
The entitlement staffing, principal’s grade, and salary units of a specialist school for Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children students are specified in the second, third, and fourth columns, respectively, of Schedule 6, opposite the school’s name in the first column of that schedule.
72 Special residential schools
The entitlement staffing, principal’s grade, and salary units of a special residential school are specified in the second, third, and fourth columns, respectively, of Schedule 7, opposite the school’s name in the first column of that schedule.
73 Regional health schools
The entitlement staffing, principal’s grade, and salary units of a regional health school are specified in the second, third, and fourth columns, respectively, of Schedule 8, opposite the school’s name in the first column of that schedule.
Part 6 Exemptions
74 Special reason for exemption
The Secretary may exempt a board, in respect of a school it administers, from the limitations imposed by this order if there is a special reason for an exemption for the school that—
(a)
applies only to the school or to some other schools; but
(b)
does not apply to all other schools.
75 Schools subject to interventions
If the Minister or the Secretary has applied any of the interventions described in section 171 of the Act to a school, the Secretary may exempt the board or any commissioner of the school from any or all of the limitations imposed by this order, and may impose conditions on any exemption, if the Secretary is satisfied that the exemption and any conditions are necessary in the circumstances.
76 Board-funded teachers
The Secretary may exempt a board, in respect of a school that it administers, from the limitations imposed by this order if the Minister has given consent to the board under section 580 of the Act.
77 Overriding of clause 14(1) and (2) for supernumerary teachers after notice of provisional rolls
(1)
A board may continue to employ any permanently appointed regular teacher who, following receipt of the Secretary’s notice of the school’s provisional rolls, has become supernumerary.
(2)
This clause overrides clause 14(1) and (2).
78 Overriding of clause 14(1) and (2) based on employment during 2026 school year
(1)
A board may employ more permanently appointed regular teachers than is permitted under clause 14(1), and may employ more other regular teachers than is permitted under clause 14(2), if,—
(a)
at some other time during the 2026 school year, the board has employed, or will employ, fewer regular teachers than the prescribed number; and
(b)
the employment of those teachers does not, at any time, cause the number of regular teachers employed by the board at the school to exceed by more than 10% the number of FTTEs that the board is entitled to employ at the school under clause 14(1) or (2); and
(c)
the net effect during the 2026 school year of employing the additional teachers does not result in the school’s board employing regular teachers representing a greater number of FTTEs than it is entitled to employ over that school year.
(2)
This clause overrides clause 14(1) and (2).
79 Circumstances in which application of clause 78 is suspended
(1)
The Secretary may notify a board, in writing, that clause 78 does not apply to it if the circumstances in subclause (2) exist.
(2)
The circumstances are that, contrary to clause 78, the board employs a regular teacher whose employment causes the number of regular teachers employed at the school to exceed by more than 10% the number of FTTEs that the board is entitled to employ at the school.
(3)
If a board receives a notice under subclause (1), clause 78 does not apply for the period specified in subclause (4).
(4)
The period during which the notice applies is from the date on which it is received by the board until the date on which the number of regular teachers employed by the board at the school during the year up to that date equals the number of FTTEs that the board was entitled to employ at the school under clause 14(1) or (2) during that period.
80 Exemption for surplus to carry over until 31 March 2026
(1)
(2)
The circumstances are that the board employed fewer regular teachers at the school during the 2025 school year than equated to the number of FTTEs that the board was entitled to employ under a provision set out in clause 14 of the Education (2025 School Staffing) Order 2024.
(3)
In this clause, surplus means a positive number that is obtained by subtracting the number of FTTEs that the board employed at a school during the 2025 school year from the number it was entitled to employ at the school under clause 14 of the Education (2025 School Staffing) Order 2024.
81 Roll increases
The Secretary may exempt a board, in respect of a school it administers, from the limitations imposed by this order if there has been an unusual increase in the number of students enrolled at the school.
82 Time allowance for teachers on long-term training
The Secretary may exempt a board, in respect of a school it administers, from the limitations imposed by this order if the Secretary considers that the school needs a long-term training course allowance of up to 1 FTTE for each teacher who is absent on a long-term training course.
83 Resource teachers
(1)
The Secretary may exempt a board, in respect of a school it administers, from the limitations imposed by this order in 1 or more of the following circumstances:
(a)
students enrolled at the school or at other schools have particular educational needs that can and should be met by the employment of 1 or more resource teachers: learning and behaviour:
(b)
students enrolled at the school or at other schools have particular educational needs that can and should be met by the employment of 1 or more resource teacher managers: learning and behaviour.
(2)
The maximum number of FTTEs in respect of which the Secretary may grant an exemption under subclause (1) (on a national basis and across all State schools of any type) is,—
(a)
in respect of resource teachers: learning and behaviour, the number obtained by dividing the total number of year 1 to year 10 students enrolled at State schools by 633:
(b)
in respect of resource teacher managers: learning and behaviour, 41.
84 Learning support co-ordinators
(1)
The Secretary may exempt a board, in respect of a school it administers, from the limitations imposed by this order if students enrolled at the school or at other schools have particular educational needs that can and should be met by the employment of 1 or more learning support co-ordinators.
(2)
The maximum number of FTTEs in respect of which an exemption under subclause (1) may be granted (on a national basis and across all State schools) is 839.
85 Protection of supernumerary teachers
The Secretary may exempt a board, in respect of a school it administers, from the limitations imposed by this order if the exemption is necessary to preserve the continued employment of any permanently appointed regular teacher employed by the board immediately before 1 January 2026 who is for the time being supernumerary, having been declared surplus by virtue of amalgamation, merger, change of status, closure, or a fall in the roll of the school.
86 Structured literacy in primary schools and area schools
(1)
The Secretary may exempt the board of a primary school or an area school, in respect of a school it administers, from the limitations imposed by this order if 1 or more of the following circumstances exist:
(a)
the school participates in the training of teachers in structured literacy:
(b)
because of the size or location of the school, the students of the school need to have a structured literacy support teacher based at the school:
(c)
the school provides a base from which its structured literacy support teacher can serve both that school and other schools in the area.
(2)
The maximum number of FTTEs in respect of which an exemption under subclause (1) may be granted (on a national basis and across all primary schools and area schools) is 349.
87 Structured maths/pāngarau in primary schools and area schools
(1)
The Secretary may exempt the board of a primary school or an area school, in respect of a school it administers, from the limitations imposed by this order if 1 or more of the following circumstances exist:
(a)
the school participates in the training of teachers in structured maths/pāngarau:
(b)
because of the size or location of the school, the students of the school need to have a structured maths/pāngarau support teacher based at the school:
(c)
the school provides a base from which its structured maths/pāngarau support teacher can serve both that school and other schools in the area.
(2)
The maximum number of FTTEs in respect of which an exemption under subclause (1) may be granted (on a national basis and across all primary schools and area schools) is 143.
88 Normal and model schools
The Secretary may exempt a board, in respect of a normal or model school it administers, from the limitations imposed by this order to ensure that the school is able—
(a)
to recruit and retain sufficient skilled and experienced teachers to carry out the special functions of normal and model schools; and
(b)
to carry out the extra work required by the performance of those functions.
89 Maintenance of specified programmes in high schools and area schools
The Secretary may exempt a board, in respect of a high school or an area school it administers, from the limitations imposed by this order if the Secretary believes that—
(a)
the school’s staffing has been (or, but for the exemption, would be) affected by a fall in its roll; and
(b)
it is desirable to grant an exemption (sufficient to restore the school’s staffing to its 2025 level or some lower level) in order to maintain a specified programme of instruction that might otherwise be discontinued.
90 Protection of associate principals in high schools
The Secretary may exempt a board, in respect of a high school it administers, from the limitations imposed by this order if the Secretary believes that—
(a)
the school’s entitlement to an associate principal has been (or, but for the exemption, would be) affected by a reorganisation, change in attendance, closure, amalgamation, or change in class of the school; and
(b)
it is desirable to exempt the board from the limitation in order to preserve the position.
91 Deaf and hearing-impaired students
The Secretary may exempt the board of Ko Taku Reo from the limitations imposed by this order if the students at that school have particular educational needs that can and should be met by the employment of not more than 127.5 resource teachers: hearing.
92 Blind and vision-impaired students
The Secretary may exempt the board of BLENNZ from the limitations imposed by this order if the students at the school have particular educational needs that can and should be met by the employment of not more than 67.1 resource teachers: vision.
Part 7 Revocation
93 Revocation
The Education (2024 School Staffing) Order 2023 (SR 2023/209) is revoked.
Schedule 1 Grades for principals’ positions
| Principal’s grade | Roll range | |
|---|---|---|
| U1 | 1–50 | |
| U2 | 51–100 | |
| U3 | 101–150 | |
| U4 | 151–300 | |
| U5 | 301–500 | |
| U6 | 501–675 | |
| U7 | 676–850 | |
| U8 | 851–1,025 | |
| U9 | 1,026–1,200 | |
| U10 | 1,201–1,400 | |
| U11 | 1,401–1,600 | |
| U12 | 1,601–1,800 | |
| U13 | 1,801–2,000 | |
| U14 | 2,001–2,200 | |
| U15 | 2,201–2,400 | |
| U16 | 2,401–2,600 | |
| U17 | 2,601–2,800 | |
| U18 | 2,801–3,000 | |
| U19 | 3,001 and above |
Schedule 1: amended, on 23 April 2026, by clause 6(1) of the Education (2026 School Staffing) Amendment Order 2026 (SL 2026/59).
Schedule 1: amended, on 23 April 2026, by clause 6(2) of the Education (2026 School Staffing) Amendment Order 2026 (SL 2026/59).
Schedule 2 Activity centre allowance
| School | Staffing (FTTEs) | Salary units | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aorere College | 2.0 | 2 | ||
| Bayfield High School | 2.0 | 2 | ||
| Gisborne Girls’ High School | 2.0 | 2 | ||
| Hastings Boys’ High School | 2.0 | 2 | ||
| Hutt Valley High School | 2.0 | 2 | ||
| James Hargest College | 2.0 | 2 | ||
| Mana College | 2.0 | 2 | ||
| Napier Boys’ High School | 2.0 | 2 | ||
| Onslow College | 2.0 | 2 | ||
| Palmerston North Boys’ High School | 2.0 | 2 | ||
| Papakura High School | 2.0 | 2 | ||
| Rotorua Boys’ High School | 2.0 | 2 | ||
| Spotswood College | 2.0 | 2 | ||
| Western Springs College | 2.0 | 2 |
Schedule 3 Teen parent unit allowance
| Approved maximum roll | Staffing (FTTEs) | Salary units | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 2.0 | 2 | ||
| 25 | 2.5 | 2 | ||
| 30 | 3.0 | 3 | ||
| 35 | 3.5 | 3 | ||
| 40 | 4.0 | 4 | ||
| 45 | 4.5 | 4 | ||
| 50 | 5.0 | 5 |
Schedule 4 Units attached to specialist schools
| School | Attached unit | Entitlement staffing in FTTEs | Salary units | |||
| Central Regional Health School | Epuni Education Programme | 5.6 | 4 | |||
| Central Regional Health School | Te Au rere a te Tonga | 12.4 | 13 | |||
| Kingslea School | Te Maioha o Parekarangi Rotorua Youth Justice Residence | 8.9 | 8 |
Schedule 5 Instrumental and vocal music tuition
| School | Staffing (FTTEs) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland Grammar School | 4.0 | ||
| Freyberg High School | 2.0 | ||
| Geraldine High School | 5.0 | ||
| Hagley College | 14.0 | ||
| James Hargest College | 5.0 | ||
| Macleans College | 2.0 | ||
| Mount Albert Grammar School | 2.0 | ||
| Otahuhu College | 1.0 | ||
| Pakuranga College | 1.0 | ||
| Queen’s High School | 7.0 | ||
| Rangitoto College | 2.0 | ||
| Saint Peter’s College (Auckland) | 1.0 | ||
| Tauranga Boys’ College | 4.0 | ||
| Waikato Diocesan School for Girls | 12.0 | ||
| Whakatāne High School | 2.0 |
Schedule 6 Entitlement staffing, etc, of specialist schools for Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children students
| School | Entitlement staffing in FTTEs | Principal’s grade | Salary units | |||
| Kingslea School | 32.9 | U9 | 38 |
Schedule 7 Entitlement staffing, etc, of specialist residential schools
| School | Entitlement staffing in FTTEs | Principal’s grade | Salary units | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halswell Residential College | 7.9 | U4 | 7 | |||
| Salisbury School | 5.0 | U4 | 4 | |||
| Westbridge Residential School | 7.9 | U4 | 7 |
Schedule 8 Entitlement staffing, etc, of regional health schools
| School | Entitlement staffing in FTTEs | Principal’s grade | Salary units | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Regional Health School | 33.8 | U7 | 40 | |||
| Northern Regional Health School | 184.9 | U12 | 234 | |||
| Southern Regional Health School | 44.3 | U5 | 54 |
Rachel Hayward,
Clerk of the Executive Council.
Date of notification in Gazette: 7 August 2025.
Notes
1 General
This is a consolidation of the Education (2026 School Staffing) Order 2025 that incorporates the amendments made to the legislation so that it shows the law as at its stated date.
2 Legal status
A consolidation is taken to correctly state, as at its stated date, the law enacted or made by the legislation consolidated and by the amendments. This presumption applies unless the contrary is shown.
Section 78 of the Legislation Act 2019 provides that this consolidation, published as an electronic version, is an official version. A printed version of legislation that is produced directly from this official electronic version is also an official version.
3 Editorial and format changes
The Parliamentary Counsel Office makes editorial and format changes to consolidations using the powers under subpart 2 of Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019. See also PCO editorial conventions for consolidations.
4 Amendments incorporated in this consolidation
Education (2026 School Staffing) Amendment Order 2026 (SL 2026/59)
Versions
Education (2026 School Staffing) Order 2025
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