Working With Us

A young girl wearing a green hijab playing with colorful dinosaur-shaped puzzles at a table, while an older woman watches and smiles in a bright, inviting room.

A focus on professional development, great colleagues, and a fantastic not-for-profit atmosphere – join a team that’s ready to support you and your lifelong career.

We know it takes a village to raise a child. Our village includes our amazing pouako/teachers, as well as a support team that has a vital role in the day-to-day running of our association. When you join us, you'll become part of something bigger - a network of professionals who are dedicated to giving tamariki the start that will make a difference for the rest of their life.  As part of our team, you’ll also enjoy access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and receive a 25% discount on fees when you enrol your child at RKA.

We employ both provisionally and fully registered pouako/teachers who have a teaching Degree or Diploma specialising in early childhood education. All our pouako/teachers receive the pay and conditions set out in the Kindergarten Teachers Collective Agreement (KTCA), including excellent professional development opportunities, six weeks annual leave per year, and for newly qualified teachers, a two-year programme to support you towards full certification. We also offer opportunities to participate and learn from Incredible Years, the evidence-based early intervention programmes.

Professional Development Prioritised

At RKA, professional development is the crucial foundation that helps us support and grow our people.

We offer opportunities that are second to none, designed to empower, inspire, and strengthen your professional practice.

One of the highlights of our calendar is Tatou Hui, where our entire network - including our support team - come together to connect and share best practice with each other. We get to learn from external speakers who are not only relevant to our work, but genuinely inspiring - there is always something fresh to take away. It’s also a time where we celebrate the incredible contributions everyone has made over the last year, with our much-anticipated annual RKA Awards. You can read about these and other professional events on our LinkedIn page.

  • Woman holding a wooden award with a gold plaque in front of a green leafy wall. She is smiling and wearing a gray sweater.

    RKA Inspirational Teacher Taonga 2025 - Alison Robinson

  • Six women standing together in front of a green tree wall decorated with pink and white flowers, holding a glass award.

    RKA Inspirational Team Taonga 2025 - Hokowhitu Kindergarten

  • A woman holding a wooden spiral award and a certificate in front of a green hedge wall decorated with pink, white, and red flowers. She is smiling and wearing a brown coat and a green top.

    RKA Leadership Recognition Taonga 2025 - Vanessa Godfrey

  • Group of six women standing in front of a green wall with pink and white flowers, with one woman holding a trophy and a certificate.

    RKA Team Sustainability Taonga 2025 - Manchester Kindergarten

  • A woman standing in front of a green leafy wall with pink and white flowers, holding a wooden spiral trophy and a certificate of excellence.

    RKA Support Staff Excellence Taonga 2025 - Jodi Zimmerman

Professional Growth Cycle

Every member of our team benefits from a personalised annual professional growth cycle. You’ll have opportunities to reflect on your practice, identify areas for development, and access support to help you keep growing.

When we invest in our team, we see the results first-hand in the lives of our tamariki. That’s why we provide a range of meaningful opportunities to strengthen practice, build connections, and celebrate expertise across our network:

  • Planned professional development days are scheduled when centres are closed, offering topical workshops and valuable team time to collaborate and reflect.

  • Professional time is available for pouako/teachers to pursue external development opportunities or focus on their individual professional goals.

  • Teacher exchanges provide a chance to connect with colleagues in other locations, share ideas, and gain fresh perspectives.

  • Centre visits allow pouako/teachers to observe different practices across RKA, sparking inspiration and innovation in their own teaching.

  • Cultural leadership allowance is available for pouako/teachers to apply for, recognising and supporting leadership in Te Ao Māori.

  • Kaiārahi (Head Teachers and Centre Managers) receive an additional 40 hours of development time each year to support their responsibilities as professional leaders.

  • Tōmua certificated pouako/teachers participate in a two-year Induction and Mentoring programme, supported by our Senior Teachers, and are paired with an experienced, Tūturu certificated mentor.

Why Our Team Chose Ruahine Kindergarten Association

  • “I feel like RKA has the balance between growth, celebration, and wellbeing just right.”

  • “I am currently studying and feel supported with the opportunity to have study days.”

  • “I am very proud to work for a not-for-profit provider that puts children first.”

  • “RKA feels like home, I’m not a teacher, but know I have a valuable role and feel extremely supported.”

  • “I love working at RKA and would find it extremely hard to leave, not a decision I ever want to take!”

  • “I have built many great working relationships here and look forward to connecting with everyone at Tatou Hui each year.”

  • “I love my team, I love my job, I love the people that surround me.”

  • “Grateful for the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and into a Head Teacher role.”

  • “The opportunities for growth, professional support, and forward thinking makes RKA a fabulous employer.”

Current Vacancies

These are the roles we currently have available. We’d love to hear from you!

Download application form

Qualified & Registered Relief Teacher

We are always looking for qualified and registered teachers to support our 25 locations. 

What you bring:

  • Flexibility, adaptability and able to cope well with change

  • Bring innovation and a growth mindset each day

  • Passion for bicultural and inclusive practice

  • Competent with IT to manage bookings via Simplifi

What we offer:

  • Kindergarten teacher T&Cs

  • We subsidise half of your First Aid certification or refresher costs (conditions apply)

  • Day-to-day or short-term relieving opportunities

  • Flexibility to work the days and locations that suit you best

How to apply:

Download and complete an application form and submit via email to vacancies@rka.org.nz along with your CV and cover letter.