At Prospero, we’re more than just education recruiters — we’re trusted partners, supporting principals and school leaders through every stage of the school recruitment process. With staffing shortages continuing to affect schools across Aotearoa New Zealand, we’re committed to helping our clients stay informed, resourced, and ready for the future.
The Workforce Initiative Searcher for Principals (WISP) is an interactive tool developed by the New Zealand Ministry of Education to support schools and kura with recruitment, retention, and workforce planning.
Surprisingly, many school leaders we speak to are unaware this tool even exists, yet it can be a game changer for your school's staffing strategy.
WISP helps principals and hiring leaders:
Quickly identify workforce support programmes your school is eligible for
Access targeted funding and staffing initiatives in one place
Plan for current and future vacancies with greater confidence
Strengthen recruitment strategies with tailored solutions
Whether you're facing ongoing teacher shortages, trying to attract quality candidates, or exploring how to build a stronger teaching team, WISP offers a centralised source of valuable information.
Using WISP is simple:
Visit the official WISP tool via the Ministry of Education website.
Enter your school or kura name or number in the search bar.
Instantly access a list of relevant workforce initiatives and programmes.
Click on each initiative to learn about the benefits, eligibility criteria, and how to apply.
As a specialist education recruitment agency in New Zealand, we see tools like WISP as vital resources. They allow us to offer smarter, more strategic support, from short-term staffing fixes to long-term workforce planning.
By integrating WISP into our recruitment conversations, we help school leaders unlock opportunities they may not know existed, reinforcing our role as consultants, not just recruiters.
Whether you're actively recruiting, planning ahead, or just exploring your options, we’re here to help. Our team can walk you through WISP, provide access to VIT-eligible teachers, and offer consultative support tailored to your school's needs.
Start with WISP, and let’s build a stronger workforce, together.
Access the WISP Tool here: Microsoft Power BI