The primary teachers' union says further strikes are "not off the table" as negotiations with the Ministry of Education continue following nationwide strikes.
The offer to teachers has not officially changed since the strike action on August 15, nor since it was first offered on July 3.
However, the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) and Ministry of Education negotiators are meeting this week behind closed doors to continue to work towards a compromise.
Both parties were reluctant to talk about the progress of negotiations, saying they are being undertaken in good faith.
The NZEI is seeking a 16 per cent salary increase over two years for teachers at all levels, from entry-level to experienced staff, plus financial support to help schools cope with difficult pupils.
NZEI President Lynda Stuart told 1 NEWS teacher representatives were yesterday involved in negotiations with Ministry representatives, and that principals have been negotiating today.
"The Ministry made an offer a while ago now, and that went out to the membership and it was resoundingly rejected,' Ms Stuart said.
"We're still working with the previous offer and moving forward with negotiations on that."
Ms Stuart said any new offer made to the union will again be taken to members, with strike action being one potential outcome if they were unsatisfied.
"That's not off the table - but certainly we'd be looking at other options as well," Ms Stuart said.
"Our members will make the decision."
In May, DHBs reached a pay deal with the New Zealand Nurses Organisation worth about $520m.
Education Minister Chris Hipkins told Parliament last month the offer to teachers amounts to about $484m - but Ms Stuart said the NZEI is still looking into how that number was calculated.
Speaking on TVNZ 1’s Q+A, Chris Hipkins said teachers also need to committ to the process.
"There's a bit of debate around that," she said.
Commentators have linked a recent downturn in business confidence to industrial action this year, but Ms Stuart said businesses should be supportive of quality teachers.
"The public get it - they want the very best for kids in this country - and I would assume that business wants that too," she said.
"These children are the future of this country, so if we don't get it right for these kids then we've got a problem in this country."
The NZEI also today released the results of a new survey it conducted among its 1749 school principal members, of which 700 responded within 24 hours.
Almost 52 per cent of those who responded said they did not have all the teaching staff they need this term, while 30 per cent reported no suitable applicants were available for teaching positions.
Almost all - 90 per cent - said it had been difficult to find relieving staff over the winter.
About 81 per of respondents said sick teachers had still come to school on occasion because they knew there were no relievers available.
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