File photo. Teachers' protest in Wellington on 20 August 2025. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
The Educational Institute says its members boycott of a curriculum roadshow for primary school principals does not count as formal industrial action.
Stephanie Madden from the union's principals' council told RNZ that refusing to attend any of the four roadshow events next month would send a message to the government about principals' stalled pay talks.
"It won't have an effect on what's happening in our day-to-day work in our schools. The changes in the curriculum are government policy and we are all enacting those," she said.
"We just are sending a message to the government that there's a huge amount of workload involved in the curriculum changes and the pace of change, and we need them to recognise that and provide the support that principals need to do the job."
Madden said its members were refusing to attend because it was not acceptable that the union had been asked to make a claim that fit within a one percent pay rise.
She said refusing to implement the revised curriculum would count as industrial action but that would require a ballot of the union's members.
The boycott comes as the government looks to change up the NCEA curriculum, which it says will help prepare young people for the jobs of the future.
Madden said primary principals could not engage with the roadshow "when they felt so unsupported by the government".
"Earlier this year, principals were asked to implement changes to the curriculum and deliver these changes at an unreasonable and exhausting pace - over three months instead of a more usual timeframe of about three years.
"This made our workloads unsustainable and caused burnout in our profession," she said.
"We asked the government to recognise the impact those curriculum changes had on us. Instead, we've been asked to negotiate within a one percent envelope."
Madden said principals had yet to receive an offer, despite negotiating since July.
The action comes after principals and teachers voted to strike on 23 October.
Public Service Commissioner Brian Roche said the curriculum roadshow was not part of collective bargaining.
"It is a government policy initiative, and public servants have a duty to implement government policy as directed.
"I encourage NZEI to stay focused on the matters currently under negotiation. Reaching a settlement for their members is in everyone's best interest - and that remains my priority."
He said there were a number of issues that had prevented an offer being made to principals.
"We have not yet reached the stage in bargaining where we feel an offer can be made to NZEI Principals that would be accepted. Bargaining involves trade-offs, and to date, the NZEI has not shown a willingness to compromise on its claims."
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