About
Teaching Council
The Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand is the professional body for over 150,000 registered and certificated teachers in New Zealand, in early childhood, primary and secondary schooling and in English and Māori medium settings.
We set and uphold professional standards and a code of conduct for teachers.
We support teachers to grow, lead, and thrive.
And we advocate for the status, expertise, and impact of the profession.
Because teachers aren’t just educators.
They’re brain builders, foundation layers, future makers.
Our role is to ‘Strengthen the mana of teaching so teachers can change lives.’
It’s time to change the conversation.
In 2023, we asked New Zealanders what they thought about teaching. 90% said they value it.
Yet too many teachers still feel undervalued, underpaid, and undermined. Teaching continues to be seen as low-status and focused mainly on care.
This message helps close that gap — shifting from appreciation to real understanding and respect.
Because teaching is expertise. It’s skilled. And it has a lasting impact. And when society recognises the true value of teaching, everyone benefits — learners, whānau, communities, and the future of Aotearoa.
Teaching shapes what matters most.