Experienced Teacher

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

You have done the hard yards. This is a school that will actually use what you know.

Wairakei Primary School, Taupō, wants an experienced teacher with something to share — structured literacy training, real curriculum knowledge, and one particular strength that is yours. You will be asked to share it, not sit on it.

Expect professional company. Colleagues who will challenge your thinking respectfully and expect you to return the favour. Leadership that wants clear, confident, student-first decisions from you rather than a request for approval. If long-term leadership is where you are heading, say so — that ambition is welcome here, and supported.

The school is rural, and that shapes the job in good ways: strong relationships, whānau you actually know, and staff who get out on the field with the students. Assessment here is about knowing your learners and adapting your teaching, not collecting data for its own sake. Behaviour management is calm, relational and consistent, in the classroom and out of it.

The year level is not fixed in advance. Placement is decided once the school’s structure for 2027 is settled, so say in your cover letter where your strengths sit.

Bring your professionalism, your understanding of New Zealand tamariki, and a willingness to keep improving after all these years. The POWER values — Pride, Opportunity, Whānau, Excellence, Respect — describe how people treat each other here.

If you are ready to be a leading teacher in a school that will notice, apply.

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

• An experienced teacher holding a Tūturu (Full Practising Certificate).
• 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. The salary step is set by the Executive Assistant on appointment, from an assessment of qualifications and experience.
• Year level set by the school’s 2027 structure, reporting to the Team Leader.
• Appointment is subject to a current practising certificate and a satisfactory safety check 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.

Read the full job description (PDF): https://wairakeitaupo.school.nz/assets/Uploads/WPS-Job-Description-Classroom-Teacher-2027-applicant-v01.pdf

Applications close 4p.m. Thursday, October 29, 2026.

Wairakei Primary School is an equal opportunity employer.