Voluntary Bonding Scheme

What is the Voluntary Bonding Scheme?

The Voluntary Bonding Scheme will recognise those teachers who choose to enter teaching in schools and subjects where there is high need. Eligible teachers will receive an annual taxable payment of $3,500 for up to five years. These payments will be directed at a teacher’s student loan, and are set at a level designed to assist teachers to pay off their loans within five years.

If teachers do not have a student loan, payments will be made directly to them.

Who is eligible?

All teachers who have graduated since 2005 will be eligible for entry to the Voluntary Bonding Scheme in 2009 if they are working in either:

• decile 1 schools;
• severely isolated schools; or
• particular subject areas

From 2010, graduates will only be eligible to enter the scheme in the first year of their initial provisional registration – their beginning teacher year.

All teachers must choose to enter the identified school or subject within the first year of their initial provisional registration. This indicates sign-up to the scheme, and will be confirmed through application processes on completion of three years' service.

Are you eligible for Voluntary Bonding if you have a TeachNZ scholarship?

Teachers bonded as a result of TeachNZ scholarships will not be eligible for Voluntary Bonding payments until their scholarship bonding period is completed. These teachers may, however, be eligible to receive Voluntary Bonding payments to cover service completed after completion of the scholarship bonding period, up to the fifth year following initial provisional registration.

Please check this website regularly for updates regarding the Voluntary Bonding Scheme.

For more information visit Ministry of Education – Voluntary Bonding Frequently asked questions.