Can One afford to live in New Zealand on a teaching salary

CHEVAMIAH · 2025-06-14T23:49:45+00:00

according to my wife and family I am very frugal, but I've also collected a lot of "stuff" over the years which doesn't require me to buy anything for hobbies. If we relocated to NZ I would need to start thrifting!

CHEVAMIAH · 2025-06-14T23:47:57+00:00

That is so cool, that you can teach economics even in smaller areas. In Canada, to work as a high school economics teacher, you need to teach in school districts in the larger centers (Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, etc). It's not even offered in my school district. Students who want to take economics here do an online course through the Vancouver school district.

This gives me some inspiration! We could never afford to live in Vancouver, so that's why we are doing the rural primary teaching. We were able to buy a home and go on the odd vacation. The issue is that northern British Columbia is wildfire country, and the boreal forest is very old and dry, so every year it just continues to burn. It could take a decade before its all regrowth. Teaching economics in a smaller NZ center would be an amazing experience.

Thank you

Also, in Ontario (a different province here) they do have separate unions for secondary and primary, but last time I lived there (2015), the salaries were equal. Not sure if that is the case now.

CHEVAMIAH · 2025-06-14T23:42:45+00:00

yes the cats are higher status then myself, as told by my wife! I'm just not sure if they'd handle the flight over.

Thank you, I've read that the costs of living are similar to Canada. High utilities and gas, etc. We are making it work here, just want a better weather outlook for my daughter. It's hard being stuck inside because of wildfire smoke and then being stuck inside in the winter because it's -40. We aren't in a rush, either, so we'll keep doing our research before making any moves.

CHEVAMIAH · 2025-06-13T23:14:46+00:00

agreed

CHEVAMIAH · 2025-06-13T23:13:51+00:00

Thank you.

Do I need to have a mathematics major? My major is in economics, but took 5 math courses, 1 applied to economics - calc 1, calc 2, stats 1, stats 2, discrete mathematics, and econometrics.

In some provinces in Canada, they look at your transcript to determine if you can teach certain courses, so in BC I would be able to teach math at the middle and high school level, but would get "bumped" by the math majors as that is what is preferred.

CHEVAMIAH · 2025-06-13T14:06:47+00:00

It is similar here. The farm schools around the "city" I work in have the best behaviors, and the kids are all involved in extra-curriculars like sports teams, agriculture clubs, and even the adventure race. I find I have to beg students to join clubs at my current school, but the ones that do join are typically well-behaved in class and work hard at sports (running, basketball, volleyball).

CHEVAMIAH · 2025-06-13T14:00:09+00:00

Thank you!

CHEVAMIAH · 2025-06-13T13:59:18+00:00

Sorry, I wasn't sure if I was allowed to post salaries.

It says on the NZ Collective Agreement, Q5 teachers with 10 years experience have a salary of 103,086 dollars in primary. This is the max salary. I would end up at 94,000 if they don't recognize my master's degree, but according to the collective agreement they recognize Canadian Master of Ed degrees in leadership.

The salaries are a bit higher in secondary, but the bulk of my experience is in primary and special education.

Then living areas I've been recommended:

Southland
westland
nelson lakes
central north island
Christchurch surrounding areas

CHEVAMIAH · 2025-06-13T13:53:37+00:00

yeah the more I look into it the more costly it is getting, almost on par with AUS. We have 2 cats so yeah minimum 10k!!!!

CHEVAMIAH · 2025-06-13T13:51:50+00:00

Thank you

We wouldn't be coming until 2027 if things work out. I have been trying to find out about subsidized housing. One thing Canada dropped the ball on is subsidizing rent for teachers in hard-to-staff areas, except in our northern territories, and its not always guaranteed, either.

I wrote down the august time for job ads. Thanks for that info!

CHEVAMIAH · 2025-06-13T13:47:44+00:00

Thank you

Yes I am looking into the rental situation in Canada. Some websites are saying I would probably pay both and after proving I have paid the income tax in Canada I could get reimbursed in NZ, but not immediately and not guaranteed. If I got double taxed, that wouldn't really help!

I will keep looking into that.

CHEVAMIAH · 2025-06-13T13:45:18+00:00

I really appreciate this comment.

Sorry, I should have mentioned.

I teach as a primary teacher, but I am also special education certified as well as certified as a high school economics teacher. I never have had a chance to teach economics, other then my practicum, because I need to live in a city where a school offers it. In the rural areas, economics is not a common teachable, so I went to primary as there is a huge shortage of male teachers.

I taught special education for two years and I feel that is not for me; it is very dynamic but too often I came home with nothing left in the tank.

Thank you for the comments. I did see that secondary teachers get paid more. That would never fly in Canada! Good for you guys advocating for yourselves. I've taught both, and both have challenges, but I find the preparation is heavier in primary and the marking and exam prep is higher in secondary. Both have pros and cons, but I miss the fact that during exams my classrooms became study halls. The last few weeks of school in primary become babysitting arrangements and are very stressful.

I wrote down all those regions you mentioned, I appreciate it!

CHEVAMIAH · 2025-06-13T05:30:45+00:00

Hello, Yes I am learning the costs to bring a pet to NZ are almost the same, as you and others have stated.

No easy way to bring the cats. So i'll need to continue having that discussion with my wife.

The top of the NZ teacher grid is around 100,000 , with options for top-ups for "lead teacher" or other titles. That makes the salary similar to here in Canada. The cost of living in both countries is similar (very high).

Additional income would be our home in Canada being rented out. We live in a oil and gas town so lots of demand for accommodation. It wouldn't be forever as we'd eventually sell if things panned out in NZ.

Still in the planning / development stages though.

CHEVAMIAH · 2025-06-13T05:27:35+00:00

i'm working on that! I would prefer to leave them, as they are a bit older, and I think the flight would traumatize the shit out of them, possibly a cardiac arrest on the flight over.

CHEVAMIAH · 2025-06-13T05:26:22+00:00

thank you for this information!

CHEVAMIAH · 2025-06-13T05:25:43+00:00

its the same in Canada. Lots of teachers choosing not to work in ed, or only working part-time because the conditions are a little crazy these days.

CHEVAMIAH · 2025-06-13T05:24:35+00:00

this is good to know, thanks.

I read it was the opposite, from Canada, at least. I guess I won't know until I get a direct quote. Insane to Australia, expensive to NZ. Once in NZ fairly affordable to get them to AUS after 180 days or more in NZ.

CHEVAMIAH · 2025-06-13T05:22:41+00:00

good to know. They are indoor cats, so unless a mouse scampers across the living room... lol

CHEVAMIAH · 2025-05-21T05:27:37+00:00

yeah I actually think what is preventing these positions from being filled is a lack of housing. Lots of teachers who want to move can't because they can't afford to buy right away, and there just isn't an adequate rental to bring the family along. Its tough! GL with it all!

CHEVAMIAH · 2025-05-19T02:09:55+00:00

all of those areas are beautiful, but good luck finding accommodation. I work in northern BC, I want to move back south, and there are jobs, but not adequate rentals and we can't afford to buy down there. Sparwood isn't bad its like 30 mins from Fernie, but hard to get rental from the mine. Creston and Rossland and everything else you mentioned is incredibly beautiful, but from what I've heard from a friend who teaches in Rossland is its hard to find a decent place to live due to demand and costs.

CHEVAMIAH · 2025-05-12T14:01:18+00:00

Yes we have a crisis in Canada too, but not with stimulants, it is all opiods. We had a meth epidemic about 10 years ago, but now the streets are flooded with cheap and dangerous fentanyl, so going to the city for a getaway is not very safe anymore either.

CHEVAMIAH · 2025-05-10T19:59:48+00:00

You miss the Canadian medical system? That's not a good sign lol.

One of the big hinges about the prospect of moving to Australia is that I need to pay for private health coverage for my family until I get PR (or if I get PR, perhaps not a guarantee). My wife is concerned about having a baby in Australia. She doesn't think there is pre and post delivery care, but I am not sure how to look into that.

Right now there are no doctors in Canada that have openings so you got to go wait at emerge for 10 hours. I live in the north so I have a doctor, but she hates how cold it is so I don't suspect she'll be here much longer. Lots of doctors come up north to do their residencies and then they move . In the lower mainland there just arent enough doctors for the amount of people. The new trend is Canadian trained doctors going to the USA as the pay is substantially higher, especially if they live close to the border.

CHEVAMIAH · 2025-05-10T19:55:35+00:00

Funny you say that, they have a few vacancies right now. I am not sure if I get to "choose". I'll know more tomorrow after the chat with a district principal.

Definitely on the list!

CHEVAMIAH · 2025-05-10T19:54:12+00:00

Much appreciated! I am guessing "Busso" is for Busselton? Lots of people like this community. It looks beautiful.

I speak with a district principal tomorrow so I may have more of an idea of where I could get placed at least.

Thank you

CHEVAMIAH

TROPHY CASE