About 3000 Canterbury teachers marched through Christchurch streets today as part of rolling national strikes.

The majority of primary schools in the region were closed today, affecting more than 50,000 children, as teachers demand better conditions from the Government.

Teachers filled two thirds of the Horncastle Arena earlier today, standing with banners representing the schools they are from. They joined in song before marching through the streets towards Hagley.

While teachers are demanding higher pay, and have rejected the Government's most recent $700 million package, they say that their focus is on the kids, not the money.

Relief teacher Andrea Katsipis says after the earthquakes, a lot of children are suffering post traumatic stress and anxiety issues.

"I chose to resign from my full time teaching position last year because I couldn't be a mum to my own children. I was giving all my mum to my own children. They needed me to be there for emotional and relation needs rather for actual teaching."

Part-time teacher at Ouruhia Model School Ella Harris protested outside the Ministry of Education this morning before joining the rally at Horncastle.

She says people shouldn't assume teachers are getting an easy ride and long holidays.

"I would say to anybody you come and try be in a classroom for a week or two, and then tell me that teaching doesn't deserve a bit more attention than it's getting at the moment."

Harris says they have increasing numbers of difficult children to deal with, plus huge amounts of prep work and paperwork.

There has been mixed support for the latest round of strikes, which began in Auckland on Monday. Talkback callers and social media users have criticised the teachers for continuing to reject the pay offer.

One profession that knows what it means to strike are standing with the teachers.

Nurses Union organiser Danielle Davies says that teachers had their back when they went on strike, and they will be supporting them throughout this process.

"Teachers look after our kids, and we look after patients, so really its the same situation. All of us deserve better."