The Government will allow 300 overseas qualified teachers into New Zealand under a new class border exception.

Education Minister Chris Hipkins said on Saturday the exception will provide schools and early childhood education services struggling to find teachers in certain locations and for some subjects additional support, especially as they recruit for 2022.  

The Ministry of Health will work with the sector to ensure services and schools with the greatest need get priority and will invite applications for the teachers from September.

"Teachers who were already employed in New Zealand, but who left the country and were unable to return to their job due to the border closure may also be eligible," Hipkins said.

"A separate family reunification border exception is being created for the partners and dependent children of teachers who are already in New Zealand on temporary visas.

"A lot of families were separated when border restrictions were put in place to protect New Zealand from COVID-19 and we know this has been hard for them. We're pleased we're at last able to reunite teachers with their families."

Teachers already in New Zealand will be able to request to bring in their partners and dependent children for the duration of their visa.

New Zealand's borders are currently closed to most travellers with just a small number of exemptions available.

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