Auckland secondary principals say fast-tracking residency for overseas teachers is a positive step -- but only one strategy to address the shortage

The Government's moving secondary teachers from the Green List Work to Residence pathway, to the Straight to Residence pathway.

Auckland Secondary Schools Principals Association president Karen Brinsden says there also needs to be work to retain existing teachers.

She says in the past year she lost teachers to Australia, where they got an instant pay boost -- and has had young new teachers leave Auckland as they couldn't afford to stay.