Rolling strikes are set to take place across the motu as more than 20,000 secondary teachers take action because of "the lack of progress in negotiations for a collective agreement".
In a statement on Monday, the Post Primary Teacher's Association (PPTA) said the rolling strikes are in protest of the lack of progress in negotiations for a collective agreement that "meets the needs" of high school education and the profession.
PPTA Te Wehengarua acting president Chris Abercrombie said teachers would rather be in the classroom, but there is a teachers shortage "that needs to be addressed urgently through better pay and conditions".
"Every student has a right to have a specialist teacher in every subject but tragically that is not the case in an increasing number of schools."
Abercrombie said a recent staff survey found one in seven advertised classroom teaching positions had no applicants from within Aotearoa or overseas.
The PPTA says the survey found one-third of advertised positions could not be filled at all and 5 percent were filled by Limited Authority to Teach appointments.
"We need pay and conditions that will keep our skilled and experienced teachers in the profession, attract people into teaching, and encourage those teachers who have left to return to the job they love," Abercrombie said.
"Secondary teaching is an awesome career, and it is a hugely demanding one. It needs to be valued more highly and the work needs to be more manageable. We are committed to getting a satisfactory settlement of our collective agreement - the future of secondary education and our profession depend on it."
The rolling strikes will start in the South Island on Wednesday and start moving up the country.
Wellington, Hutt Valley, Manawatu-Whanganui, Wairarapa, Taranaki, and Hawkes Bay will see strikes on Wednesday.
On Thursday secondary teachers from Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Western Bay of Plenty, Central Plateau, Hauraki, Coromandel, East Coast, Counties-Manukau, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Northland will strike.
