Overseas teacher recruitment grant reinstated

As New Zealand reopens to the world, the Government has reintroduced two grants to support overseas teacher recruitment.

Eligible schools, kura and early learning services can now apply for the Overseas Finder’s Fee(external link) of up to $3,450 to help meet their recruitment costs.

Additionally, eligible overseas and returning New Zealand teachers have access to the Overseas Relocation Grant of up to $5,000 towards the cost of relocating to New Zealand.

For the first time, early learning services can apply for the scheme, supporting the early learning sector to secure qualified teaching staff from overseas.

These initiatives are open for applications via the TeachNZ website(external link).

The Ministry of Education has also announced the establishment of a new ‘navigator’ role to support schools, kura, early learning services and overseas teachers through the overseas teacher recruitment journey.

If you have any queries about overseas teacher recruitment or require assistance, contact navigators via email at teacher.supply@education.govt.nz or phone 0800 165 225.

Meanwhile, the new Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) came into effect on 4 July. It is a three-step process and requires schools to become accredited in order to hire a migrant.

Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) – Immigration New Zealand

The three-steps are to:

1. Become an accredited employer – Immigration New Zealand.
2. Apply for a job check, after having advertised the role in New Zealand – Immigration New Zealand.
3. Ask the migrant to apply for their visa – Immigration New Zealand.

For full information on the process to become an accredited employer, and to understand what you need in order to have your job check approved, please see Immigration New Zealand’s webpage Steps to hiring migrant on the AEWV.

Within the Accreditation Employer Worker Visa scheme, the Government has produced a ‘Green List.’

The purpose of the Green List is to provide a residence pathway to support attraction of highly skilled migrants in globally in-demand and long-term shortage areas.

If the occupation is on the ‘Green List’ and the employer is accredited, they will not need to provide proof of advertising for the role during the AEWV job check step (Step 2).

For the ‘Green List’ teaching roles, the migrant will have a work to residency pathway after two years.

Specific education roles are deemed enduring skill shortage occupations and are captured on the ‘Green List.’ Employment must be for a position as a teacher in one of the following areas:

• Secondary school teacher in one of the following specialisations:
  • Science (including chemistry, biology, physics, agricultural and horticultural science, and earth and space science)
  • Mathematics (including statistics and calculus)
  • Technology (including digital technologies, computer science, construction and mechanical technologies, materials technologies, and processing technologies)
  • Pacific languages (including languages of Tokelau, Niue, Cook Islands, Sāmoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Fiji, Rotuma, and Kiribati).
• Early childhood (pre-primary school).

Teachers must hold a New Zealand registration and a provisional practising certificate issued by the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Find further information on Immigration New Zealand webpage’s Green List occupations.