Wairakei Primary School, Taupō. Permanent, full-time, starting Wednesday, January 27, 2027.

Your first years of teaching shouldn’t be something you survive on your own.

At Wairakei Primary School, Taupō, a beginning teacher gets more than a mentor’s name on a form. Expect a thorough induction, colleagues two doors down who will happily hand over their planning, and leaders who would far rather you asked the question than pretended you had the answer.

This is a school where having a go counts. Take an end of the skipping rope. Have a crack at kicking a soccer ball back to a Year 5 who can definitely kick it better than you. Turn up to the events. Tamariki notice teachers who join in, and so do their whānau.

You will be pushed in the best way: try new approaches, learn to read your assessment information properly, and build a classroom where expectations are clear and children want to be. Feedback will be regular and straight, because the goal is to make you genuinely good, not merely comfortable.

Bring curiosity, initiative, decent tech confidence and the belief that every child in front of you can make progress. Te reo and tikanga Māori are part of ordinary classroom life here, guided by the POWER values — Pride, Opportunity, Whānau, Excellence, Respect.

Come and start your career somewhere that will back you and tell you the truth.

What the appointee will do

• Design and differentiate teaching programmes.
• Integrate culturally responsive practices.
• Manage assessment, moderation and reporting.
• Build a positive learning culture and model the POWER values.
• Contribute actively to school and corporate life.

Who this position suits

• Teachers holding a Tūturu (Full Practising Certificate), Pūmau (Subject to Confirmation) or Tōmua (Provisional) certificate. Beginning teachers are welcome, and a full induction programme supports them.
• Uses te reo Māori and upholds the local tikanga Māori of the area.
• Understands diverse learners.
• Works collaboratively.

Also valued: BSLA structured literacy training, Oxford Maths or Maths No Problem, and te reo Māori capability.

The details

• Salary under the Primary Teachers’ Collective Agreement 2026-2028, with step set by qualifications and experience.
• Year 4–6, reporting to the Team Leader.
• Appointment is subject to a current practising certificate and a satisfactory safety check, including a New Zealand Police vet, under the Children’s Act 2014.
• School visits are welcome on school days. Book a time through the school office. For enquiries, contact Val Mansfield, Executive Assistant, at office.ea@wairakeitaupo.school.nz.

How to apply

Apply through this listing with a CV, a cover letter and the names of three referees, including your current or most recent principal. The full job description is attached to this listing.

Applications close Monday, October 19, 2026.

Wairakei Primary School is an equal opportunity employer.