Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a job teaching from overseas or do I need to be in NZ?

Teaching has been removed from the NZ immigration priority occupations list and the overall teacher shortage has been improved significantly, however there are still many schools which cannot find suitable candidates locally and which will look seriously at overseas-based teachers. In the fourth term, (September to December) when they are staffing for the following year, schools will often consider strong overseas based candidates especially those who have access to an appropriate form of work or residence visa. Subsequent to an interview and reference check process, teachers may be offered posts while still in their home countries. Oasis also assists New Zealand principals in selecting candidate pools to interview directly in the UK and teachers who meet Principals may receive offers of employment due to this prior meeting. Being in New Zealand at times when schools are staffing for the next school year does have the added advantage of being immediately available for direct interviews but if a teacher does not have residence or a work visa then the period spent waiting to obtain and then start a job can place financial strain on individuals or families.

What does "Decile" refer to?

Decile is the system of numbering schools from 1 to 10 based on the socio-economic catchment of a specific school and its zone. It has no reference to the quality of education or to the manner in which a school may be operated.

What are School Years?

New Zealand Schools years start with New Entrants at Year 0, and then as follows based on approximately on age:

  Primary Years 1 - 6 (5 11 years old)
  Intermediate Years 7 - 8 (11 13 years old)

  Secondary Years 9 - 13 (13 18 years old)

A full Primary school is Year 1 - 8, whereas a contributing Primary school is Year 1 - 6.

What is ERO?

ERO is the Education Review Office. This is a government organisation which is responsible for regular checks on all operational facets of all schools in New Zealand the results are published online.

How long will it take for my paperwork to be completed?

The process of getting the paperwork together for the NZQA qualification assessment and then NZ Teacher registration can take quite some time so we recommend that teachers get on to this well in advance of the time when they wish to come to New Zealand. NZQA offers the fast track facility which expedites the application but there is an additional charge for this service. Completing the NZQA assessment and then gathering police checks, references, and possible language tests can further slow the process of registering with the Education Council. The whole process can take as long as 6 months although it is usually shorter.

What qualifications /references do I need to work for Oasis?

All teachers who wish to teach relief/supply for us must have current NZ Teacher registration and an appropriate work visa to allow them to work in NZ legally. We always complete at least two referee checks with all teacher applicants. Please do note that Oasis acts as an agency ie we send teachers to different schools each day but the school is the formal employer and the teacher is paid by the Ministry of Education; not Oasis.

How does relief/supply teaching work?

Oasis teachers are contacted by us by phone either prior to the day of work or on that morning. The teacher fills in a time sheet at school before leaving and the school faxes a copy of the teachers time sheet to the pay roll organisation. Salaries are paid in a fortnightly cycle.

Should I register at home or when I reach NZ?

As stated above it is a good idea to have NZ Teacher registration completed before you arrive. Teachers without it can only teach for 10 days or 20 half days and without registration the teacher is paid at the untrained teacher rate.

What is the likelihood of finding work in NZ?

The teacher shortage in NZ has been largely alleviated, however, there is still a place for quality, experienced teachers with excellent references in NZ schools.

How do I get a visa to work in NZ?

If you are 30 or under you may be eligible for a Working Holiday Visa.  If not you will need a job offer to apply for a work visa and (due to changes in immigration regulations) schools have to prove that there are no capable local teachers available.  There are also other visa options including the silver fern talent visa and application for permanent residency.  Forms and further information on this can be found on the NZ immigration website www.immigration.govt.nz

Is there a cost for Oasis' services?

Oasis Education does not charge its teachers any fees. So our services are free to you.
 

What is the best time to come over to NZ and when are roles advertised?

The NZ school year starts in January and hence most vacancies are for this time.  Jobs can come up at anytime however Oasis's main recruitment period for Term 1 is October through to January.  Other vacancies do also come up for Terms 2, 3 and 4.

How much will I get paid?

Salaries in NZ are paid on a national scale and are dependent on qualifications and years experience.  You can find more information on teacher salaries on the Ministry of Education website www.minedu.govt.nz

Will my qualifications be recognised?

While most UK and overseas qualifications are recognised in NZ, some school-based vocational courses (eg: the Graduate Teacher Programme in the UK) are not.  The only way to know categorically is to actually go through the NZQA assessment (or pre-assessment) process.

I'd love to teach in NZ, what do I need to do?

There are 5 key steps to complete...

1. Register with Oasis, and you can do this simply by sending your CV and cover letter to the respective primary secondary or relief consultant.
2. NZQA Qualifications Assessment
3. Teachers Registration
4. Job Offer
5. Visa

What assistance do you provide teachers relocating to NZ?

We are a recruitment company not an immigration company and so - for people looking for fulltime posts -our main role is to find you a job. To achieve this we will reference check and interview you. While this process is being satisfactorily completed, we will market you to schools and school leaders. Of course we will also advise and guide you as well as we can but our main task is to find work for teachers.

Where can I work in New Zealand?

Working through Oasis, almost all the primary and intermediate placements we make are in New Zealand's biggest City, Auckland. Secondary placements into Auckland are also strong and we do regularly place teachers into schools all round the country although Oasis being Auckland based, we are strongest in that City and have strong ties with many of Auckland's leading schools.

What type of work do you offer?

Throughout the year Oasis offers relief teaching (supply teaching) to reliable teachers who have NZ registration and suitable work permits. Relief demand is regulated by our schools' needs and factors such as; weather, winter colds and professional development, have a significant effect on how much work we have to offer. As a rule the best teachers get most work and the key to steady relief work is making a good impression and then getting asked back on a regular basis by schools. As mentioned above we also offer long term and permanent placements in primary, intermediate and secondary.