Some parents will be working from home or bringing their kids into the office today.

Primary teachers and principals are leaving the classroom for a nation-wide strike.

Thousands will be rallying around the country - asking for better pay and work conditions.

Employment lawyer Dawn Duncan told Kate Hawkesby parents will be trying to work around the strike by swapping shifts or bringing kids in.

"A lot of New Zealand employers already have flexibility policies to help employees with care obligations and those sorts of practices will be able to be rolled out today."

LISTEN ABOVE AS DAWN DUNCAN SPEAKS WITH KATE HAWKESBY