Kia ora koutou,

As we come to the end of our first year as Ko Taku Reo Deaf Education New Zealand, on behalf of the Board I would like to convey how very proud and excited we are about the future for Deaf education in New Zealand. It has been a very busy year for everyone with an extremely steep learning curve but what wonderful new ways of interacting and collaborating have developed as a result. Several exciting initiatives have occurred in this first year including building on the existing NZSL immersion initiatives throughout New Zealand. This has included the extension of current NZSL Hub programmes, as well as informal playgroups for pre-schoolers. The Board is extremely heartened to see this happening and the truly collaborative approach being taken between Ko Taku Reo staff, Advisors on Deaf Children, and Deaf Aotearoa’s 1st signs programme. We now have more learners being able to access and understand their Deaf history, culture, and language in a way never before possible within mainstream education.

The Education Review Office (ERO) has been evaluating our progress since 2016 with a focus on improving outcomes for learners. During the year ERO spent time undertaking a Readiness Review and have told us they are pleased with the progress made by Ko Taku Reo on the agreed priorities. Certainly bringing together Deaf Education in Aotearoa under the one umbrella has been a lot of work as everyone learns how to work together. The Board wishes to congratulate the senior leadership team and their amazingly dedicated staff for their absolute commitment and focus to improving Deaf and Hard of Hearing student outcomes throughout the nation. This is no small task and we have every confidence students will continue to benefit from the changes and improvements as we move into our second year.

Ehara taku toa I te toa takitahi Engari, he toa takitini

Success is not the work of one but of the work of many.

Happy 1st anniversary Ko Taku Reo Deaf Education New Zealand.

Dr. Denise Powell

Board Chair