NZEI says it's 'playing the long game' in fight over claim

The national secretary of an education union has concluded its annual conference in Rotorua with a call to arms.

The New Zealand Education Institute Te Riu Roa national secretary Paul Goulter addressed a room of union members at Rotorua's Energy Events Centre and told them the union was playing the "long game".

The union's conference ran from Sunday to today.

"The 15th of August [strike day] was a great day. This country has never seen before what we did on that day," Goulter said.

The NZEI conference ran from Sunday to Wednesday. Photo / Ben Fraser

"You showed the community and Government what you can do and you showed you're prepared to go out and do it again.

"We're all in this together and now it's time."

Goulter said the Government "can and must do better" and his speech was met with regular cheers of support.

"We reject the view we should shut up and accept the offer because the Government got rid of national standards and charter schools," he said.

"We have the public on our side. Community after community demonstrates support for our fight because they know our fight is also their fight.

"If this Government is saving for a rainy day crisis, I can tell you it is in front of them now and we have to fix it."

The New Zealand Education Institute Te Riu Roa national secretary Paul Goulter (centre) at the union's annual conference in Rotorua. Photo / Ben Fraser

Goulter said the union had to keep fighting for the future of education.

"It's the long game NZEI is playing."

During the conference the union recommended rolling regional strikes in the week between November 12 and 16.

All members will be asked to vote on the proposal in an electronic ballot from October 16 to 25.

NZEI president Lynda Stuart said today the fight was just beginning.

"We are going to make New Zealand the best place in the world to be a child, but in order to do that we need teachers in our classrooms and principals that are not overloaded, over worked and not sleeping at night.

"We need to take the anger and frustration and turn it into that cold, hard, steely determination to win and we bloody well will.

"We are the cavalry and we are going to take action."

Secretary of Education Iona Holsted has previously said the Ministry of Education would continue to negotiate with NZEI "to avoid disruption for children and their families and to reach a settlement".