THOUSANDS of teachers took strike action in New Zealand today over their claim for a pay rise to keep pace with the cost of living.

Some 50,000 walked out after last-minute talks by the Post Primary Teachers Association and New Zealand Educational Institute with the Ministry of Education failed to reach a deal to halt the strike.

Teachers rejected a NZ$6,000 (£3,064) pay rise spread over two years as well as an offer of NZ$1,300 (£664) in one-off payments for primary teachers linked to 15 more hours per term of classroom release time.

Unions say the government’s offer failed to match inflation and the education sector had reached a “crisis point” because of teacher shortages and heavy workloads.

Most schools were closed and protests took place around the country with teachers waving placards including “can’t afford the dentist” and “too poor to print good signs.”

Unions say some teachers have been forced to take second jobs just to make ends meet as the cost of living skyrockets.

Chris Abercrombie of the Post Primary Teachers Association said: “A quality education is a fundamental human right.

“Tragically, as teachers we are seeing that right being slowly and surely undermined.”

Principals of secondary schools have accepted a NZ$4,000 (£2,043) pay rise plus an additional 3 per cent at the end of the year plus a $6,000 (£3,064) well-being allowance.

The president of the New Zealand Educational Institute Mark Potter said teachers “want to send a message to the government about how serious we are about needing change.”

The country’s education minister, Jan Tinetti, said she was disappointed to see teachers strike and wanted the dispute resolved quickly.