Mr Rawlinson would not say how much Talent2 was being paid for the first phase of the contract with the ministry, but it was believed to be about $100 million.
Mr Rawlinson confirmed on Radio NZ, he expected Talent2 would be penalised if they were found to breach key performance indicators.
He gave assurance the problems with the system would end.
"Eventually it will be a better, more efficient system."
Mr Rawlinson offended schools this week when he told Radio NZ schools were not "embracing" the new payroll system.
"The biggest challenge we've had was the sector wasn't ready to change. Paying the schools relies heavily on school administrators. They weren't able to adapt to putting the data in online.
"The system was too complex - the training that the ministry provided was online - we now know that not everybody was able to get the benefit out of that training."
The comments come as reconciliation for annual pay and leave for more than 8000 teachers on annual contracts are due, along with pay of other staff over the Christmas holiday break.
Up to 90 per cent of schools have been affected by pay problems since the system began and 70 per cent are still having problems.
Mrs Longstone said the ministry had a back-up plan if pay problems persisted - boards of trustees could use contingency funds to pay staff.
TIMELINE:
2005: Talent2 wins tender for software system through a process described by Ms Longstone as open, competitive and following government best practice.
2006/7: Ministry of Education decides to contract for the whole payroll service, not just the software.
2008: Talent2 awarded contract after second tender process.
2010: Talent2 supposed to have rolled out payroll system.
2012: $30 million Novopay payroll rolled out.
