Learn about the employment agreement responsibilities for early learning services.
Employment agreements are mandatory between employers and employees. Employers have specific regulations that they must adhere to as part of their licensing criteria.
The licensing criteria for early learning services require they implement suitable human resource management practices. You can find information on these requirements in the criteria for your type of service.
Most teachers employed by one of the 33 Kindergarten Associations will be covered by:
Teachers who are members of NZEI Te Riu Roa, and whose work comes within the coverage clause of the KTCA, are covered by the terms and conditions of the collective agreement.
To confirm their work is covered by this agreement, you can read the full coverage text from the KTCA, Part 1, clause 1.3.
Teachers who are not a member of the NZEI but whose work comes within the coverage clause of the KTCA can sign a promulgated IEA. The terms and conditions of work are similar to the collective agreement.
Early childhood teachers employed by Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (Te Kura) will be covered by either:
Teachers who are members of the NZEI and whose work comes within the coverage clause of the Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu Early Childhood Teachers’ Collective Agreement are covered by the terms and conditions of the collective agreement.
To confirm their work is covered by this agreement you can read the full coverage text from the Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu Early Childhood Teachers' Collective Agreement, Part 1, clause 1.4.
Teachers who are not members of NZEI can sign a promulgated IEA if they come within the coverage clause of the collective agreement. The terms and conditions of work are similar to the collective agreement.
We do not provide templates for individual employment agreements for early learning services or kōhanga reo. But you can visit the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's Employment Agreement Builder website for information to assist you to create one.
Last reviewed: 16 April 2024 Has this been useful? Give us your feedback
