Back to school: Teacher shortage almost solved thanks to returning Kiwis 1 Feb, 2021 06:08 AM 4 minutes to read Teachers Anna Williams (left) and partner James McCaffrey (right) have returned from Japan sooner than planned, helping to ease New Zealand's teacher shortage. Photo / Brett Phibbs. Teachers Anna Williams (left) and partner James McCaffrey (right) have returned from Japan sooner than planned, helping to ease New Zealand's teacher shortage. Photo / Brett Phibbs. Kiwi teachers coming home from Covid-torn parts of the world have dramatically eased New Zealand's teacher shortage as the new school year starts this week. The Ministry of Education says the number of teaching vacancies in primary and secondary schools dropped by a third from 349 last January to 233 last month.