In the past, New Zealand has had two Deaf Education centres, which operate as schools for Deaf students while also providing resources and support to students in mainstream schools. These are the Kelston and Van Asch Deaf Education Centres. In 2020, they were merged under the new national education service Ko Taku Reo – Deaf Education New Zealand to legally become one school with a single Executive Principal.
All the services offered by both centres continue to be available. For information and updates visit the combined centres’ website: www.kotakureo.school.nz
You can get information about eligibility for enrolment from Ko Taku Reo directly. Or you can contact the Ministry of Education’s Advisors on Deaf Children, who advise families of Deaf children from birth to year three at school.
Beyond year three, the Ministry has resource teachers (Deaf) who work with children, families and specialists either in the classroom or at home. The resource teachers work through Ko Taku Reo.