The settlement will ensure primary, intermediate and secondary principals of similar-sized schools will receive the same base salary.
Otago Primary Principals' Association chairman Chris McKinlay said after 16 months of negotiations, the majority of principals were happy they finally had a settlement.
''Getting movement that will benefit all our principals in terms of pay and conditions has been a very difficult process and is not yet achieved.
''We are very pleased that the Government has finally agreed to reinstate pay parity on the base scales with our secondary colleagues.''
Mr McKinlay said there was agreement on both sides that there was still considerable work to be done to address some of the issues around principal workload and conditions for small school principals.
''But with this vote, principals have taken a step of good faith and said they will accept this offer and continue to work with the Government on these other matters through the accord process.
''I truly hope that this goodwill will be extended from the Ministry of Education as well and that we will see some significant movement in these other areas of concern over the next year.''
New Zealand Educational Institute president Lynda Stuart said the accord would focus on appraisal, teacher-only days, wellbeing, workload and the complexity of the principal role.
She said it had been ''a long and gruelling campaign'', and she was proud of the way members had stayed united and held out for a fair offer, despite the personal cost.
Education secretary Iona Holsted said the ministry was pleased primary principals voted to settle their collective agreement out to August 25, 2022.
Acceptance
Key components of the offer accepted by primary and intermediate principals. —
- Pay parity with secondary principals across the roll.
- Principals of the smallest U1 grade schools (up to 50 pupils) rolled into the U2 grade on the pay scale.
- Additional funding to ensure at least two adults in every school during the school day.
- Beyond an initial increase to achieve parity, there is a 3% per annum pay increase for three years on the roll and staffing components of remuneration.
- An annual $300,000 professional development fund for primary principals.
- A three-year term for the agreement.
