Whanganui teachers turn out in force to vote on whether or not to accept Ministry of Education pay offer

Teachers from all around the Whanganui region attended a meeting to vote on whether or not to accept the Ministry of Education's pay offer. Photo / Paul Brooks

A large turnout of teachers attended a meeting at Whanganui Intermediate School yesterday to vote on whether or not to accept the Ministry of Education's pay offers.

It was one of a series of New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa meetings held nationwide and if the majority reject the offer, they will take industrial action.

That would result in another vote on whether to hold nationwide work stoppages on August 15 which would result in half-day school closures.

Things look to be heading that way according to NZEI Te Riu Roa lead negotiator Liam Rutherford.

"I haven't met a single teacher that said 'oh yeah I think the offer's about right' I don't think I'll be too far out of line saying that the offer falls well short of what's needed to value teachers," he said.

"We're currently at a point where the teacher shortage we have across the country is at crisis point."

As well as pay, there are concerns around teacher relief and workloads.

"High class sizes and lack of assurance around being able to deliver on vital things like release for teachers adds to workload and stress," Rutherford said.

"You don't have teachers encouraging their children to become teachers anymore, that's a really sad state of affairs that we're at."

The outcome will be released on July 14.