What Kia Maia means for leaders: How you can support returning teachers
23 January 2026
Principals, tumuaki and professional leaders can support the employment and certification of teachers returning to the profession with the introduction of Kia Maia | Future‑Ready Teaching Plan.
Launched earlier this year by the Teaching Council, Kia Maia is designed to strengthen knowledge and rebuild confidence for kaiako who are re‑entering teaching after time away from the classroom.
The Kia Maia plan is built using the Standards for the Teaching Profession. It aligns with the kind of professional learning and reflection already familiar through Professional Growth Cycles (PGC) and can be integrated into existing processes.
While the plan is completed by the returning teacher, it must be developed in partnership with and approved by a principal, tumuaki or professional leader.
What Kia Maia means for leaders
As a leader, you can employ teachers who have been away from teaching for a period of time, as long as there is support for them to refresh their skills.
The plan helps identify what the returning teacher needs to focus on and how they will build their confidence and capability while working. Much of this learning can happen on the job, through everyday practice.
Leaders can also make a conditional offer of employment to a returning teacher. This offer is linked to developing a Kia Maia plan with the school’s support. Once the Teaching Council approves the plan and renews the teacher’s practising certificate, the conditional offer can be confirmed.
For teachers looking to renew their certificate, having a job offer and the active support of a principal or professional leader is essential. This places school leaders at the centre of the process, helping experienced kaiako return to the profession while maintaining professional standards.
Support from the Teaching Council
Eligible returning teachers will receive the Kia Maia | Future‑Ready Teaching Plan template directly from the Teaching Council’s registration team. The plan is then developed in partnership with the prospective employer and submitted as part of the certificate renewal process.
Kia Maia is designed to support both schools and teachers. It gives leaders confidence that returning kaiako are being well supported, while creating clear and achievable pathways back into teaching.
For principals, tumuaki and professional leaders, Kia Maia offers a practical and flexible way to grow the workforce and ensure returning teachers are ready for the realities of today’s learning environments.
To provide more information to your teachers, you can head to our webpage.
