Secondary Principals' Collective Agreement

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Secondary Principals' Collective Agreement [PDF, 709 KB]

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Email: employment.relations@education.govt.nz

 

Part 2: General Provisions

Secondary Principals' Collective Agreement
Effective: 1 December 2022 to 1 May 2025

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  • 2.1 Responsibilities of the Board
    • 2.1.1 The board shall act as a good employer in all its dealings with the principal. For the purposes of this agreement a good employer is an employer who treats employees fairly and properly in all aspects of their employment.

      2.1.2 The board shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that the principal is provided with adequate resources to fulfil the responsibilities and duties required of the principal under this collective agreement.

  • 2.2 Responsibilities of the Principal
    • 2.2.1 The principal shall honestly and diligently carry out the duties and responsibilities as set out in the job description provided to them by the board on appointment and shall work such reasonable hours as may be required for them to do so. It is recognised that this may necessitate more than 40 hours per week.

      2.2.2 The principal shall not, except so far as may be necessary for the proper performance of the principal’s duties and responsibilities, or as may be required by law:

        1. Disclose to any person any confidential or official information that has come to the principal’s knowledge in the course of the performance of the principal’s duties and responsibilities;
        2. Use or attempt to use any such confidential or official information for the principal’s own personal benefit, or for the benefit of any other person or organisation, or in any manner whatsoever.

      2.2.3 Upon the termination of employment, the principal shall deliver to the board any confidential or official information, and any other property of the school, the board or the Crown which may be in the principal's possession or under the principal's control.

  • 2.3 Good Employer/Equal Employment Opportunities
    • 2.3.1 Attention is drawn to section 597 of the Education and Training Act 2020 which outline the responsibilities of the employer with regard to the operation of a personnel policy that complies with the principles of being a good employer and the equal employment opportunity responsibilities of the employer.

  • 2.5 Permanent Positions
    • 2.5.1 All appointments to advertised positions shall be permanent unless there are genuine reasons based on reasonable grounds for appointment for a fixed term.

  • 2.6 Health and Safety
        1. The parties recognise the importance of ensuring good and safe working conditions through Health and Safety in the workplace and that it is a mutual obligation of the employer and employees to achieve this through a participative approach.
        2. To this end, the employers and employees’ attention is drawn to the Health and Safety at Work 2015(external link). This and other legislation, relevant Codes of Practice and Guidelines are the reference points for gaining a common understanding of what those obligations are, what will assist in meeting those mutual obligations and also in promoting best practice.
        3. Where a principal’s health and safety is shown to be at risk in the carrying out of her/his duties the employer shall take all reasonable steps as are necessary to remove or minimise the identified risk for the principal and if appropriate, to do so in consultation with the relevant health and safety authorities.
        4. As part of its commitment to health and safety obligations, the school board will consult with the principal on appropriate supports for their wellbeing. This may, for example, include development of a wellbeing plan and regular mechanisms for boards to check in on the wellbeing of the principal and ensure they have appropriate support.
  • 2.7 Secondments
    • 2.7.1 Except where otherwise provided, time spent on Secondment to a Specified Education Sector Agency will be recognised as service within the Education Service.

      2.7.2 Before the commencement of any secondment a Secondment Agreement will be entered into between the principal, their employing board and the Specified Education Sector Agency to which the principal will be seconded. The Secondment Agreement will detail the conditions associated with that secondment.

  • 2.8 Working Relationship and Performance Matters
    • 2.8.1 Where there is a problem in the working relationship between the principal and the board that has not been informally resolved and is to the detriment of the school, consideration shall be given to appointing a mutually agreed and suitably qualified independent person to facilitate or mediate between the parties and/or undertake an impartial and objective assessment of the concern(s).

      2.8.2 Both the board and the principal retain the right to choose to utilise Part Eleven of this agreement to resolve any issues arising from their working relationship.

      2.8.3 Nothing in this collective agreement shall be read to limit a board’s ability to raise performance matters with a principal if it considers it warranted.