Bay of Plenty teachers are out in force striking today, fighting for better working conditions.

Nearly every unionised teacher across the country is doing the same for their shared goal.

'Frustration and disappointment” fills the air of Tauranga's racecourse, where they first meet.

Vanessa Millar has been a teacher for 19 years. She tells SunLive today's strike has been 'at least a decade” in the making.

'We need more resourcing for the kids. We need more learning support. New teachers also need better pay, new people are not attracted to the job,” says Vanessa.

Vanessa Millar has been teaching for nearly two decades. Photo: Taylor Rice/SunLive.

'There's very low confidence in the Ministry of Education at the moment.”

Protesters say they plan to make their way to education minister Jan Tinetti's office. A member of Tinetti's staff says she is in Wellington, and won't be there.

Vanessa says it is 'disappointing” Tinetti is not making an appearance.

'This is an important event. Parliament should have allowed her to be here in her hometown, if that was able to be managed.”

Tania Rae is the executive Post Primary Teachers' Association member for Western Bay of Plenty, Hauraki and Coromandel.

She says her profession is at 'crisis point”.

Protesters outside of Minister of Education Jan Tanetti's office in Greerton. Photo: Taylor Rice/SunLive.

'It would cost the Government 0.08 per cent of their entire budget to give us what we are asking for.”

'We don't want to be striking. We don't want to be out of our classrooms, but the Government has forced us to this point.”

The protesters then made their way to the education minister's office in Greerton.

'Come out, come out, we're listening,” one of the protesters yells through a megaphone.

Sandi Valentine has been a teacher for over 30 years, across Tauranga, Wellington and Dunedin.

She says her number one reason for attending is for the students.

Tauranga teacher Sandi Valentine. Photo: Taylor Rice/SunLive.

'We have plenty of students to cater to, and we can't because we lack resources.”

Sandi adds it is 'disappointing” Tinetti is not at the event.

A cardboard box makes its way to the doorstep of the Labour Party office.

Julie Secker, Western Bay of Plenty regional chairperson for the teachers' union, says the box is 'full of members' requests” to the education minister. She plans to take it in to ensure the Government is hearing their voices.

Libby Valentine and Jenny Tappenden are both teachers at Oropi School.

Oropi School teachers Libby Valentine, left, and Jenny Tappenden. Photo: Taylor Rice/SunLive.

Jenny has been a teacher for '30 plus” years. Libby has been teaching for two.

'The pay is not really inviting. It's not an attractive profession. We need higher pay for people to want to become teachers. Covid-19 has also thrown way more challenges in than what people would expect,” says Libby.

'The teachers are here are for the children, not the pay.”

Jenny says mental health, higher pay, better working conditions, inflation and impacts of Covid-19 are just some of the reasons she is here.

'I often feel we don't have support from the public on these issues too. It's an uphill battle.”

'The most extreme cases get support, but there's often only one of us and 30 children. We want to make sure we can give each child the time and support they need.”

One of the many signs at the protest today. Photo: Taylor Rice/SunLive.

On minister Tinetti's absence, Jenny says 'it would be great” if she was in Tauranga to meet the protesters.

'This is her area. She used to teach at Merrivale School. I'm sure she understands our frustration at what's going on, but it would be good to have her presence felt.”

Both say the public response to today's protest has been 'great”.

'There does seem to be a good amount of support from the public today. There's lots of people tooting at us. We recognise there is a lot of other things going on, but we just want to see conditions improve,” says Jenny.

'Tamariki today have faced a lot between Covid-19, economic issues and the floods. We're here today for them. They deserve the support,” says Libby.