A full 'mega' strike of teachers will go ahead as planned on Thursday after a meeting between the Government and the union representing primary school teachers failed to reach an agreement.
More than 800,000 students from preschool to Year 13 will be impacted but some schools have applied for exemptions.
In 2019, more than 50,000 teachers went on strike. And there will be similar scenes on Thursday, as a similar number plan to take to the streets again.
Parents and students are bracing for the disruption.
"Disruption is not good, would love the kids to be in class - but thoroughly support the teachers striking," one person told Newshub.
Another said, "it's not terribly convenient, but I understand the whys and wherefores behind it."
A third said: "Parents can figure it out - teachers should do what it takes to do what they deserve."
Some schools have opted out of striking - including Huapai District School, which has been impacted by recent flooding. Only 5 percent of their teachers will protest.
"It's about supporting the strike, which is absolutely needed, but also balancing that with pressure of our community and what our community has been through," Huapai District School principal John Petrie told Newshub.
One of the unions involved that represents secondary teachers doesn't know how many schools have requested an exemption, but it isn't worried.
"As much as I would love to see every teacher out, we understand completely that some exceptions have to be made," Post Primary Teachers' Association's acting president Chris Abercrombie told Newshub.
If teachers from early childhood, primary and secondary schools all take part - that'll be more than 50,000 teachers striking.
They're demanding pay rises that reflect inflation and better working conditions.
"No one wants to be striking, no one wants to be engaged in industrial action - we just really hope we can get this settled - we've been negotiating since May last year," Abercrombie said.
"I'm not certain we've got time to call the strike off, but I'm optimistic we'll get a settlement. My officials are working really hard on that," Education Minister Jan Tinetti said.
A settlement that'll hopefully prevent future strikes.
In a statement on Tuesday, New Zealand Educational Institute [NZEI] Te Riu Roa's president Mark Potter said NZEI Te Riu Roa primary teachers negotiation team met with the Ministry of Education to discuss "collective agreement negotiations".
Potter said the discussions with the Ministry of Education [MoE] were beneficial but there was no formal offer put forward by the ministry.
"Today's talks show that the government and the Ministry of Education are developing a better understanding of the issues teachers want to be addressed. However, while talks were constructive, teachers need significant improvement on previous offers to address outstanding issues," Potter said.
He said NZEI Te Riu Roa has asked the MoE to return to the table next week to see if they can make any progress.
"The historic joint strike action by primary, area school, kindergarten and secondary teachers alongside primary principals indicates how serious these issues are right across the education sector," Potter said.
"Teachers and principals want to see immediate and long-term action on staffing, student support, relief for overstretched teaching professionals and recognition of their work.
That is the message NZEI Te Riu Roa members will be sending through their action on Thursday," Potter said.
