Schools Celebrate Their Support Staff
Nine thousand members of NZEI Te Riu Roa, who work as support staff in schools, will today celebrate the vital part they
play in educating the country’s children.
The support staff work as secretaries, executive officers, science and IT technicians, teachers aides, therapists,
librarians, sports co-ordinators, kaiarahi i te reo, who are fluent Maori speakers, and in many other non teaching roles
in primary, intermediate, area and secondary schools.
They are a fifth of the membership of NZEI Te Riu Roa, the country’s largest education union, which also represents
primary and early childhood teachers and staff in special education and the schools’ advisory service.
Today is Support Staff Day and events will be held at schools throughout the country in recognition of the vital work
they perform.
“Support staff are often the unsung heroes of our schools. Anyone who has any involvement in education knows how
essential their work is in providing a quality education for New Zealand’s children,” says NZEI Te Riu Roa, National
President, Bruce Adin.
“The administrative work done by secretaries and executive officers is vital to the day to day operation of schools.
Librarians and science and IT technicians provide the specialist service that is becoming more and more important as the
range of subjects taught in schools increases. Teacher aides, therapists and nurses are essential in ensuring students
with special needs get the help they need to participate fully in classroom activities.”
“The importance of support staff is growing as schools become more high tech in the push to make New Zealand a knowledge
economy.”
“But as well developing their computer skills students are developing their creative talents. They’re making videos,
doing photography and producing drama, art and music. It’s the support staff who have the specialist skills that enable
teachers to provide these activities so our children are equipped to be part of the knowledge economy,” says Bruce Adin.
NZEI Te Riu Roa began representing support staff 11 years ago and today will be the tenth Support Staff Day. Schools
throughout the country will be holding events while many of the union’s branches and district councils are holding
breakfasts, lunches or dinners with guest speakers to celebrate the role support staff play in educating New Zealand’s
children.