Teaching Council of Aotearoa NZ

Democracy returns to Education Council at last

In 2014, the National Government replaced the Teaching Council with a body called the Education Council of Aotearoa New Zealand. The legislation and the process used to set up the Council was fundamentally flawed.

In 2018, following years of lobbying by ther PPTA, then-new Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced that teachers and principals would once again be able to elect members to the governing body of the teachers professional registration body (Education Council) – a decision that was warmly welcomed by the PPTA.

The results of the 2019 Teaching Council elections will soon be available (voting closes March 26).

The PPTA's Education Council Boycott: Guidance for Members

The document attached to this page covers instructions for members' about not accepting appointment or nomination to the council.

Note: the ban does not cover appointment to the Disciplinary Tribunal, the Complaints Assessment Committee or other such bodies.

Education Council fees

Members will be familiar with the agreement that was struck with the Ministry of Education during the last negotiating round in 2015 relating to the payment of practising certificate fees. The Ministry agreed to cover the cost of practising fees that were due to expire during the period of November 1, 2015 and October 31, 2018.

It is important to note that even though teachers can renew their practising certificate up to six months prior to the expiry date, the Ministry will only cover the payment if the expiry date is prior to 31 October 2018.

Further information can be found in the Teacher appraisal and registration page of the PPTA website.

Payment of secondary teachers’ practising certificate fees Q and As (PDF)