around 50000 teachers in new zealand went on strike on thursday after union talks with the ministry of education aimed at improving salaries and conditions stalled teachers demanding better pay waved placards declaring cant afford the dentist and too poor to print good signs as the oneday strike forced kindergartens as well as primary and secondary schools to close across the country trade unions argued that the governments latest pay offer did not match inflation and that the education sector is at a crisis point due to teacher shortages tragically as teachers we are seeing that right being slowly and surely undermined improvements to teacher salaries and working conditions are essential to keep experienced staff and recruit graduates he said teachers want to send a message to the government about how serious we are about needing change said mark potter president of the new zealand educational institute we all want the best for our students but without changes to the system we cant give it to them education minister jan tinetti said she was disappointed to see teachers strike and wanted the dispute resolved quickly the cost of living has become a major political issue in new zealand as the government struggles to keep a lid on inflation recent figures have suggested that new zealands economy is shrinking fuelling fears of a looming recession