The New Zealand government has announced a major immigration policy change aimed at tackling the country’s growing shortage of primary school teachers. From March 26, 2025, eligible overseas primary and intermediate school teachers—including those in Māori-medium education—will be able to apply for residency under the Straight to Residence pathway without needing to have worked in New Zealand for two years.
The move, announced by Immigration and Education Minister Erica Stanford, is part of a broader effort to attract skilled educators from abroad and ensure schools have enough teachers to meet demand.
Teacher Shortage Sparks Urgent Action
The decision follows warnings from the Ministry of Education that New Zealand schools could be short 1,250 teachers this year. The shortfall, driven by increasing student enrollments and changes to teacher contracts, was significantly underestimated due to what Stanford called “wholly unreliable” workforce data.
Initially, government projections had suggested there would be a surplus of more than 1,000 primary teachers in 2025. However, revised figures revealed a growing deficit instead. According to Stanford, direct feedback from school principals indicated that many schools were struggling to fill vacancies—contradicting the Ministry’s previous estimates.
“It took the current Minister to actually lean on the Ministry and say – hang on, this doesn’t make sense,” said Kyle Brewerton, President of the Auckland Primary Principals Association.
Policy Builds on Success of Secondary Teacher Recruitment
This change mirrors a similar decision made last year when the government moved secondary school teachers to the Straight to Residence pathway. That policy led to the recruitment of 480 new secondary teachers, benefiting thousands of students. Additionally, 1,170 overseas teachers received a relocation grant of up to $10,000 to help with their move to New Zealand.
Stanford emphasised that immigration alone is not the solution, but it is a critical piece of the puzzle.
Investing in Local Teacher Training
Alongside immigration changes, the government is investing $53 million to double the School Onsite Training Programme (SOTP), allowing 1,200 aspiring teachers to train directly in classrooms. This initiative, previously focused on secondary education, has now been expanded to include primary schools.
“The Ministry of Education is also subsidising training and financial assistance for trainees across primary and secondary and a range of subjects,” Stanford said.
The Minister has also directed officials to produce regional workforce data to improve forecasting and prevent future miscalculations in teacher supply.
Mixed Reactions and Future Challenges
The announcement has been met with relief from educators and school leaders, who have long been warning about teacher shortages. However, some critics argue that while fast-tracked residency will help in the short term, the government must do more to retain and support teachers already working in New Zealand.
Stanford acknowledged that international recruitment must complement—not replace—efforts to train and retain local teachers.