Teacher gifts NZ: a thank-you that is not another mug

By the last week of term, a teacher's desk looks like a small confectioner's. Chocolate, mugs, candles, another mug. It is all kindly meant, and most of it ends up in a cupboard.

If you are looking for teacher gifts in NZ that will actually be used, a massage voucher is worth considering. Someone who has spent a year on their feet, managing thirty small voices, is exactly the person who benefits from lying down for half an hour. A 30-minute massage costs $60 at our St Heliers spa and $65 at the Viaduct, and a 60-minute one is $105 or $115.

Why a massage voucher works as an end-of-year teacher gift

It is the opposite of clutter. It does not need storing, it cannot be the wrong size, and it gives the teacher something to look forward to once the term has finished and the marking has stopped. Many teachers will not book a treatment for themselves, because there is always a report to write first. A voucher takes the decision out of their hands.

It also scales sensibly. You can give a small one from your own family, or pool money across the class for something more substantial. And it works for the whole team, not only the person at the front of the room.

What amount is sensible?

Prices below are St Heliers first, Viaduct second.

• $60 / $65 buys a 30-minute massage (Traditional Thai, aromatherapy, Swedish, deep tissue or coconut oil). A gracious personal thank-you from one family.
• $85 / $95 buys a 45-minute back and shoulder massage, aimed at the neck and shoulders that carry a school day. A good fit for a teacher who spends the day bending over small desks.
• $105 / $115 buys a full 60-minute massage. A fitting amount for a class collection.

You do not need to match any of these exactly. A dollar-value voucher lets the teacher choose their own treatment and length, so a round figure towards the cost of an hour works well. Our guide to choosing a spa voucher explains how treatment and value vouchers differ.

Choosing the right treatment for a teacher

If you are buying a treatment rather than a dollar value, think about what a teaching day does to the body. Standing, bending, carrying boxes of books and sitting on a child-sized chair all land in the same few places.

• Back and shoulders: targeted work on the head, shoulders and back, in 30, 45 or 60 minutes. The most practical choice for most teachers.
• Reflexology foot massage: works the legs and feet, which is where a day on hard floors ends up. 30 minutes is $60 at St Heliers and $65 at the Viaduct.
• Aromatherapy: gentle, with blended essential oils. A good default if you do not know whether they like firm pressure.
• Deep tissue: firmer, for the teacher who runs, lifts weights or coaches a team. Not the right pick for someone who likes a light touch.

When you do not know, give a dollar value. It is a polite way of saying "you know your body better than I do".

How to organise a class collection

The simple way is for one parent to run it. It takes about ten minutes, and nobody has to feel awkward.

1. Pick a branch the teacher is likely to reach. The Viaduct is in the CBD at 1B/124 Customs Street West, and St Heliers is at 417A Tamaki Drive.
2. Set a modest figure per family and make it clear that giving is optional. A few dollars from each family adds up quickly: the target is simply the price of a 60-minute massage, $105 at St Heliers or $115 at the Viaduct.
3. Collect the money privately, by bank transfer or in an envelope, so that nobody sees who gave what.
4. One person buys the voucher online through the Viaduct or St Heliers gift voucher page, either as a dollar value or as a named treatment.
5. Put it in a card that every child signs or draws on. That card will last longer than the voucher does.

Check the delivery details on the checkout page when you buy, so you know what you will be handing over and when. We do not quote voucher expiry terms here; the terms shown at purchase are the ones that apply.

Teacher aides, early childhood teachers and the rest of the team

The person who actually knows which child needs a spare pair of socks is often the teacher aide. Early-childhood teachers spend their days bending, lifting and sitting on tiny chairs. Relievers, specialist teachers and the person in the school office all do the same kind of work for your child.

A 30-minute voucher for each of them is a small and personal gesture, and it costs about the same as a box of good chocolates. If your class collection is large enough, add the aide first. Many people forget them.

Timing: give it before the break, use it after

The best moment to hand over a voucher is the last day of term, when it is a pleasure to receive. The best time to use it is a few days into the summer holidays, once the report-writing is finished and the teacher has had a sleep. Both spas are open seven days, 10:00am to 8:00pm, which suits a teacher who cannot book a weekday daytime slot during term. They are closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, and a 15% surcharge applies to treatments on public holidays, so suggest a regular day if you want it to feel unhurried.

What to write in the card

You do not need much. Specific beats flowery every time. Try one of these, in your own words:

• "Thank you for noticing when Mia needed a bit more help. This is for you to put your feet up. Please book it for after the holidays begin."
• "For everything you did this year, from the reading corner to the camp. Have a proper rest."
• "From all of us in Room 7. Please use this on yourself and not on the class."

Say which branch it is for, and suggest the summer holidays as the time to use it. A teacher who knows it is for them is more likely to book it than one who feels they should save it.

"Most people who are given a voucher tell us it is the first thing they have booked for themselves in months. That is the gift doing its job."

Siri therapist team

When a voucher is not the right gift

Not every teacher wants a massage, and some people dislike being touched by strangers. A handwritten note from a child, or a small plant, can mean more. Many schools also have their own guidance on what gifts families may give, so check yours before you collect money. If you are not sure, a short, sincere note on its own is never wrong.

If the teacher is pregnant, recovering from an injury or has a health condition, a voucher still works, but they should check with their midwife or GP before booking and tell the therapist. Cleveland Clinic advises talking to your doctor first if you have a medical condition. Siri does not offer a dedicated prenatal massage, so a pregnant teacher should ring the branch to talk it through.

If you are buying for several people at your workplace instead, our corporate gift vouchers guide covers larger orders, and the Christmas spa gifts guide covers the rest of your list.

Common questions