The Education Minister was booed and told to do her job by striking teachers – an awkward position for the former principal and NZEI union board member, who spent years on the side of teachers during times of protest.

Jan Tinetti acknowledged it was 'probably pretty tough fronting up” to the protest on Thursday, 'but it's something that I was absolutely determined to do because our teachers matter”.

Teachers across the country called for better pay to meet the rising cost of living, as well as more support and resources in schools.

She stood in front of about 1500 teachers striking at Parliament, who had walked off the job after rejecting the government's latest offers to the NZEI and PPTA unions.

Tinetti was flanked by about a dozen stern-looking Labour MPs – including Angela Roberts, the former president of the union PPTA and past-secondary teacher, while Wellington Paranormal star and early childhood teacher Karen O'Leary cracked jokes and hyped up the sizeable crowd.

'It's a hard position to be in, because I have been where you are,” Tinetti said. 'I know that we can do better, and I am committed to doing this.”

The crowd became riled up as she talked of her own experience in education.

'I know that the last couple of years have been absolutely horrific across the country, but particularly tough for you in the classrooms across this country,” she said.

'I know that we have to do better, and I commit to you that we will do better.”

The crowd was chanting, ‘walk the talk' as she promised this.

MC Karen O'Leary gives the education minister a hug after she delivered her speech through booing and chants.Photo: Monique Ford/Stuff.

The crowd and Tinetti both became louder as she rounded off her speech, telling teachers she valued and heard them – before booing ensued. After the speech she was met with a hug from O'Leary, before the ‘do your job' chant started back up.

O'Leary then thanked Tinetti and the 'government people” that were with her. 'That's pretty cool,” O'Leary said.

Asked if it was confronting to have teachers tell her to do her job, Tinetti said it was 'a different situation to be in because I have always been on the other side of this”.

'But I also think it gives me a bit of empathy and understanding and I think it does help me do my job better.”

'Seeing I've been in the job as minister for education for about seven weeks, from that point of view, yes, it was probably pretty tough fronting up there today, but it's something that I was absolutely determined to do because our teachers matter.”

Education Minister Jan Tinetti heading into Parliament. Photo: Robert Kitchin/Stuff.

'I totally understand where they're coming from. I've been there. I also understand the issues that they're bringing to this today. So I am not offended by that.”

'I feel like I can walk the talk really well and hearing that today that just gives me a bit of strength to be able to do that as well.”

She said it was something that was keeping her awake at the moment.

National deputy leader Nicola Willis and education spokesperson Erica Stanford made a brief appearance at the protest, but did not address the crowd.

'I wasn't invited to speak, I was there to listen,” Willis said.

'I would say to them that the work they do has the power to shape not only the lives of individuals, but actually the future of our country,” Willis said.

MC Karen O'Leary leads chants to striking teachers outside Parliament. Juan Zarama/Stuff

'It is critically important to us, and they are valued, that if National was elected to meet the next government we will increase their pay with each settlement. But we will also work to cut through some of the bureaucracy to ensure they have more practical support in the classroom.”

Tinetti had been Associate Education Minister since the end of 2020, but took the title of Education Minister in Prime Minister Chris Hipkins' reshuffle earlier this year.

Anna Whyte/Stuff