High priority principals’ allowance

Secondary and area school principals who are employed at an eligible school are paid a high priority principals’ allowance.

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Inform

  • Principals and Tumuaki
  • Boards

About the high priority allowance

Secondary and area school principals are entitled to receive a high priority principals’ allowance (HPPA) when they are employed in a school or kura identified by the Ministry of Education as requiring additional support for recruitment and retention.

Primary principals are not eligible for the HPPA. However, they may be eligible for the staffing incentive allowance.

Staffing incentive allowance

Eligible schools may be changed by the Ministry of Education as needs change. This won’t happen more than once a year, and only after consultation with employee representatives.

These lists have been updated for 2024.

For more information, email: teacher.supply@education.govt.nz.

Eligibility and allowance conditions

Secondary school principals and area school principals are eligible to receive $3,000 per annum if they are employed:

  • at an eligible school
  • full-time (1 FTTE)
  • permanent or long-term relief (2 consecutive terms or more)

Secondary principals

The HPPA is set out in the Secondary Principals' Collective Agreement. 

Clause 3.6 – Secondary Principals' Collective Agreement(external link)

The HPPA provision applies to principals employed in:

  • all secondary schools in territorial local authorities of Buller, Grey, Southland, South Taranaki, South Waikato, Waikato and Westland.
  • some secondary schools in the territorial local authorities of Far North, Kaipara, Waitomo, Taupō, Whakatane, Kawerau, Opotiki, Wairoa, Central Hawke’s Bay, Ruapehu, Rangitikei, Tasman and Kaikoura.

Eligible schools for secondary principals

School number School name

3

4

5

7

8

9

19

21

22

106

115

119

127

143

144

145

148

158

159

160

162

166

167

169

181

183

195

214

232

233

292

298

301

303

304

305

307

395

399

400

401

409

494

661

961

Kaitaia College

Whangaroa College

Kerikeri High School

Okaihau College

Bay of Islands College

Northland College

Dargaville High School

Otamatea High School

Ruawai College

Tuakau College

Te Kauwhata College

Huntly College

Ngaruawahia High School

Trident High School

Whakatane High School

Edgecumbe College

Opotiki College

Tokoroa High School

Forest View High School

Te Kuiti High School

Piopio College

Tauhara College

Taupo-nui-a-Tia College

Taumarunui High School

Opunake High School

Ruapehu College

Rangitikei College

Wairoa College

Te Aute College

Central Hawke's Bay College

Golden Bay High School

Motueka High School

Buller High School

Greymouth High School

John Paul II High School

Westland High School

Kaikoura High School

Northern Southland College

Central Southland College

Fiordland College

Menzies College

Aparima College

Putaruru College

Tarawera High School

Te Paepae o Aotea

Area school principals

The area school HPPA is set out in the Area School Principals' Collective Agreement.

Clause 3.66 – Area School Principals' Collective Agreement(external link)

The allowance provision applies to principals employed in:

  • All area schools territorial local authorities of Buller, Far North, Gisborne, Opotiki, Tasman, Taupo, Westland, Whakatane, and Southland.
  • Some area schools in territorial local authorities of Waikato, South Waikato, South Taranaki and Tararua.

Eligible schools for area school principals 

School number School name

1

2

6

10

11

185

206

212

221

290

297

299

300

306

402

463

476

496

497

545

550

567

589

624

628

658

737

742

1055

1139

1147

1149

1175

1666

1672

1673

1748

1917

2062

2084

2103

2104

2383

3106

3114

3117

3119

4227

4230

Te Kura o Te Kao

Taipa Area School

Broadwood Area School

Te Kura Taumata o Panguru

Opononi Area School

Patea Area School

Ngata Memorial College

Tolaga Bay Area School

Te Wharekura o Ruatoki

Collingwood Area School

Tapawera Area School

Murchison Area School

Karamea Area School

South Westland Area School

Waiau Area School

TKK Motuhake o Tawhiuau

Tongariro School

Reefton Area School

Te Kura o Hirangi

Te Kura Toitu o Te Whaiti-nui-a-Toi

Te Waha O Rerekohu Area School

Te Wharekura o Te Kaokaoroa o Patetere

Te Kura o Ngā Ruahine Rangi

Te Karaka Area School

TKKM o Tuia te Matangi

Murupara Area School

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Horouta Wānanga

Te Kura o Te Whanau-a Apanui

Ngataki School

Lake Taupo Christian School

Te Rangi Aniwaniwa

Sonrise Christian School

Kaikohe Christian School

Te Kura o Waikare

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori O Ngā Uri A Maui 

TKKM o Te Waiu o Ngāti Porou

TKKM o Huiarau

Te Wharekura o Rakaumangamanga

Te Kura Māori-a-Rohe o Waiohau

Te Kura Mana Māori o Whangaparaoa

Moerewa School

TKKM o Taumarere 

TKKM o  Ngatī Ruanui

TKKM o Whangaroa

TKKM o Pukemiro 

TKKM o Te Tonga o Hokianga

TKKM o Kawakawa mai Tawhiti

TKKM o Kaikohe

TKKM o Whakarewa I Te Reo Ki Tuwharetoa

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