A Northland education leader says it's unclear how many teachers remain unvaccinated against Covid-19 as a government mandate looms.
Monday is the last day for teachers and other school workers to get at least their first dose, to be allowed on school sites on Tuesday.
Te Tai Tokerau Principals Association president Pat Newman told Morning Report he hopes more teachers and support staff have got vaccinated over the weekend.
He says exact numbers won't be clear until Tuesday.
His focus at the moment is on making sure pupils and other teachers are supported, and filling any gaps that pop up.
"We're urging people to get hold of the universities and the other training establishments, the wananga's and look at picking up the year three students who are finishing their training now or have finished the training now but are waiting to get registered and all that sort of carry on. We've talked to the teachers council about fast tracking those people through so that they can be teaching.
"We've talked about identifying people in the communities that may not have specific teaching qualifications, but in the meantime, have other skills. There's heaps of those out there, and they can go for what they call lax status. Again, the teacher's council is aware they're going to get inundated with calls about it."
