Judith Collins says she got it wrong, the average teacher is not earning $140k
Tuesday, 19 August 2025
Public Service Minister Judith Collins says she did not mislead the public when she claimed an average secondary teacher with a decade of experience was paid $147,000, but had 'mixed up' her messaging.
Collins said she thought on average a teacher with 10 years’ experience was paid about $140,000 after the Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA) announced its intention to strike on Wednesday following six days of bargaining last week.
Speaking to reporters on her way into caucus on Tuesday, Collins admitted she had “mixed up [her] messages” and that she had apologised. But she still believes teachers are on a strong salary.
'[What is] Pretty clear is that high school teachers are paid well. Sixty per cent are paid over $100,000 a year,” she said. “After 10 years’ experience and picking up all the allowances available, [they can earn] up to $147,000 a year.”
Education Minister Erica Stanford denied Labour Party claims the Government was “gaslighting” teachers.
“You’ll need to talk to Minister Collins about that, I’ve always been very clear. The average secondary school teacher just over $100,000,” Stanford told Stuff on Tuesday.
She urged secondary teachers not to strike on Wednesday.
“My message to the PPTA is, please get back to the bargaining table. Cancel the strike, come back in good faith. Put on the table what the things are that you want to negotiate on, and we will negotiate in good faith,” she said, ahead of the strike.
It comes as teachers prepare to strike for a full-day on Wednesday, after rejecting a 3% pay increase over three years, which was viewed as inadequate given people have seen their purchasing power reduce because of inflation and other cost-of-living pressures. The PPTA described the offer as “the lowest in a generation”.
The Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche also urged school teachers to “put children’s learning first” and return to the bargaining table. He said the offer equates to pay increases of between $2,500 and $7,000 a year, including regular annual progression included. “Over three years it means increases of $1,850 to $3,123 for most teachers, in addition to $10,000 to $17,000 with annual pay progression,” he added.
However, given 60% of teachers are on just over $103,000 — and at the top of the pay scale — they would only get the a 3% increase over three years .
Collins, asked if her initial incorrect comments risked harming relationships with teachers, Collins fired back at unions.
'My comments are very clear, get to the bargaining table, stop having little tantrums, as the unions decide to do, and stop using kids like their shuttle boards.'
But Labour’s education spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime has slammed the government over the claims and said Education Minister and Collins are 'gaslighting' them.
“It shows how out of touch the government are about how much these teachers are earning,' Prime said. 'I’m pleased the Minister has admitted she got it wrong, but they need to apologise to the sector.'
Prime added the comments were harmful as negotiations appear to breakdown ahead of the planned strike.
She said that the press conference last week, where Collins made the claim, “felt like a lot of gaslighting from the minister”, and accused the government of trying to create division between teachers and the public.
Prime also highlighted that teachers represented by the union are reacting strongly to their pay equity claims being cut.
In May, the government quashed all current pay equity claims, including those from teachers, and passed legislation preventing those stopped from making new claims for 10 years—effectively locking teachers out of the process.