More than 400 vacant teaching and principal positions are being advertised ahead of term 1

The Education Gazette shows there are around 50 vacancies for various principal roles - including assistants and deputies.

There are more than 160 primary and intermediate teacher vacancies and more than 200 secondary teacher vacancies listed.

The Education Ministry says demand at a national level doesn't reflect the experience of individual schools -- or regional and local variations in teacher availability.

The numbers are similar to previous comparable years.