HomeDeaf EducationKelston Deaf Education Centre (Ko Taku Reo)

Kelston Deaf Education Centre (now Ko Taku Reo; previously Kelston School for the Deaf). Kelston was established on a site in Archibald Road in 1958. The school had relocated firstly from Titirangi, then from Mt Wellington. KDEC used to provide education in a range of satellite classes throughout Auckland, the upper North Island. Kelston, which also hosts Rūaumoko Marae, merged with van Asch Deaf Education Centre to become Ko Taku Reo in 2020.

A New Era in Deaf Education

Kelston saw the celebration of many events that brought together the school community including the infamous ‘Te Pakanga o Whau’ (The Battle of Whau) in 1959 where 86 deaf students acted in a play featuring a Maori-Paheka battle on the sports fields.

1959, The Battle of Whau.

Deaf education in Auckland began during World War Two as it was perceived to be too dangerous to send children to Sumner School for the Deaf at that time as it would involve travel across the Cook Strait, so all North Island Deaf children were sent to a new Deaf school in Titirangi, Auckland. When it was taken over by the army, the school temporarily relocated to a site in Mt Wellington. Kelston School for the Deaf (Kelston) was established on a site in Archibald Road in 1958.

Deaf units connected to Kelston were established in the 1960s, which saw more Deaf children being placed, or ‘mainstreamed’ in regular schools.

In the 1960s, the school’s efforts were focused on the speech training of Deaf children. The use of Total Communication and Australasian signs was introduced in 1975 and this caused some division amongst the teachers. After lobbying by parents, teachers and the community, the Total Communication philosophy was given official recognition by the Department of Education in 1977-78.

NZSL for learning

1995, Cheryl Anton with children (Source: Kelston Deaf Education Centre).

1995, Kelston’s museum (Source: Kelston Deaf Education Centre).

By 1995, NZSL was given a place in education. This saw the development of the first bilingual class, the Deaf Studies programme, the employment of Deaf Language Assistants as language models for deaf students and communication skills workshops to staff and families. NZSL Educational Interpreters were used for the first time in the classroom in 2000. The NZSL Curriculum was established in 2006 so that all schools could provide opportunities for students to study NZSL. It was not until 2014 that the Ministry of Education agreed to fund the development of NCEA Achievement Standards so students could gain a formal qualification in NZSL.

Kelston is home to Rūaumoko Marae, the only Deaf marae of its kind in the world which opened in 1992. In 1995, the Museum of Deaf Education opened in the old hostel block.

New Developments

Staff members: The 1995 Deaf Festival was the first deaf cultural festival to take place in New Zealand.

There was a name change to Kelston Deaf Education Centre in 1991 to reflect the wide range of services. Kelston provided a range of services to deaf pupils and their families, whanau and staff in schools throughout the Upper North Island, north from Turangi and Opotiki. Resource Teachers of the Deaf worked with deaf students in over 400 schools across the Upper North Island. All staff were committed to deaf learners having full access to NZSL and/or English in order to improve their language and communication skills.

In 2014, major building work began to completely rebuild the main site at Archibald Road to bring it into the 21st century. The Administration, Residential and Resource services along with the Pre-school and the Ruāmoko Marae will be on site, with enrolled students located at partner schools in the Auckland region and beyond.

Kelston Deaf Education Centre merged with van Asch Deaf Education Centre in 2020 to become Ko Taku Reo.

Reference: Hamilton, S., (2012) ‘The Chronicles of Titirangi, Mt Wellington & Kelston Schools for the Deaf,’ Kelston Deaf Education Centre.

Note: This page was last updated 2020. Contributions are welcomed.

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2014
video – Taonga source: Ministry of Education

Acknowledgements – Ko Wai Au? Who Am I? See My Voice?

An acknowledgement to all the team who helped make the Ko Wai Au? Who Am I? See My Voice? exhibition possible. Ko Wai Au is an exhibition empowering Māori rangatahi who identify as Deaf to communicate with others leading to a wider understanding of aspirations as young Deaf Māori.
Ministry of Education
2000
video – Taonga source: AUT Visual Languages Section

Memories of Ivan and Hilda Tamepo

In an open and touching interview, Ivan and Hilda tell their tales of growing up in New Zealand, and look back on photos from their deaf schooling years.
AUT Visual Languages Section
NZSL Stories
  • Patreena Bryan
2004
video – Taonga source: Rūaumoko Komiti

The Māori Deaf world: Interviews with Whiti Ronaki, Stephanie Awheto and Michael Wi

This raw, edited footage consists of interviews with Whiti Ronaki, Michael Wi and Stephanie Awheto - a trilingual interpreter, on topics relevant in the Māori Deaf world.
Rūaumoko Komiti
2014
video – Taonga source: Ministry of Education

Ko Wai Au? Who Am I? See My Voice?

A video with six rangatahi communicating their stories of being young Turi Māori (Māori Deaf). The topics they discuss include recognition and acknowledgement of Deaf people in the past, Dame Whina Cooper and the impact of Kelston Deaf Education Centre.
Ministry of Education
1980
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: September 1980 (Vol. 17, No. 5)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
1992
video – Taonga source: Victoria University of Wellington

Jubilee Ball: Celebrating 50 Years of Deaf Schools in Auckland

Nearly 500 alumni and members of the Deaf community, well presented with dinner suits, bow ties, evening gowns, hairdos and the works enjoy an evening at the Avondale Racecourse.
Victoria University of Wellington
NZSL Stories
  • Patreena Bryan
1962
video – Taonga source: Susan Hamilton

Driver training for Deaf students

Two traffic officers visit Kelston to teach older Deaf students the drivers road code.
Susan Hamilton
2017
article – Taonga source: Western Leader.

Milestone in deaf education

A multimillion dollar education centre is helping deaf students communicate. More than 400 people attended the opening of the Kelston Deaf Education Centre (KDEC) rebuild on February 28, 2017.
Western Leader.
1969
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: 1969 (Vol. 7, No. 1)

1998
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: Summer 1998

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
1997
video – Taonga source: AUT Visual Languages Section

Memories of Perry Strawson

Perry Strawson entertains with stories and funny tales from his life; what it’s like to enjoy sports and travel as a young Deaf man.
AUT Visual Languages Section
1970
video – Taonga source: Pam and Doug Croskery

Deaf social rugby match: Married vs Single men

An informal annual rugby game between teams of Deaf men, married and single, which was played on one of Kelston Deaf Education Centre’s fields.
Pam and Doug Croskery
1991
article – Taonga source: NZ Herald

The sounds of silence

Turn the light on, so I can hear what you're saying. It's an old line, but a favourite one among us hearing-impaired people, because it points up how we "hear" with our eyes as surely as blind people "see" with their fingers or their ears.
1987
article – Taonga source: Sunday Times

Getting the deaf off their hands

Auckland film-maker Ann Andrews has embarked on a project that Television New Zealand initially regarded as unpalatable last year She is making a film about deaf people. Anne is allowing the deaf to use their first language – sign language.
1955
video – Taonga source: Susan Hamilton

School for the Deaf pupils visit Auckland Zoo

Deaf pupils visit Auckland Zoo and enjoy group rides on an elephant at the zoo.
Susan Hamilton
NZSL Stories
  • Patreena Bryan
1958
video – Taonga source: Susan Hamilton

Rugby Union: Kelston vs St Kentigern College

Kelston School for the Deaf had a rugby team that played in the secondary school Grade 2C division, coming third in the 1958 season. Kelston beat St Kentigern 16 to 0.
Susan Hamilton
1998
article – Taonga source: The Dominion

New Zealand’s first bilingual deaf unit

New Zealand's first official "bilingual" deaf unit attached to a primary school will be opened next week. The unit teaches both NZSL and English. Mr Buchanan, who will head the unit, is one of six deaf teachers teaching the deaf in New Zealand.
1965
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Spring 1965 (Vol. 3, No. 1)

1968
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Summer 1968 (Vol. 5, No. 2)

1959
video – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Te Pakanga O Whau – The Battle of Whau: Drama by Kelston School for the Deaf

The Battle of Whau: a drama by Kelston Deaf students for the opening ceremony of Kelston School for the Deaf, 7th November 1959.
Auckland Deaf Society
1995
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

The inaugural Deaf Festival is hosted at Kelston Deaf Education Centre

Deaf children are taught drama skills by two Deaf visitors from the UK, in preparation for their show at the opening night of the inaugural Deaf Festival, hosted by Kelston Deaf Education Centre.
Television New Zealand Archive
1986
video – Taonga source: Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision

The Magic Park

In November 1986, film maker Ann Andrews organised a week-long drama workshop for six 13 year olds from Kelston School for the Deaf. The workshop concluded with the play, The Magic Park, written and acted by the students.
Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision
2019
article – Taonga source: Stuff

Deaf children need better access to New Zealand Sign Language to close the education gap

Lack of access to interpreters means deaf children are missing out on education. There are about 3600 children in the deaf education system, of which about 96 per cent attend mainstream schools. There are just three NZSL educational interpreters working full time with students, meaning most children were missing out.
Stuff
1987
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Journal: June 1987 (Vol. 1, No. 2)

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
1967
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: 1967 (Vol. 4, No. 4)

1989
video – Taonga source: Deaf Aotearoa

National Foundation for the Deaf promotional video

National Foundation for the Deaf produce a promotional video explaining their role and the purpose of their member organisations.
Deaf Aotearoa
1968
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: 1968 (Vol. 6, No. 1)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
1993
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

Sounds or Silence?

In the early 1990s, due to a breakthrough in technology, cochlear implants were starting to become the norm. The Deaf community worldwide viewed cochlear implants as a device that disregarded the need for access to sign language. Others considered such devices a miracle. In 1993, ‘60 Minutes’ investigated this controversial topic in New Zealand.
Television New Zealand Archive
2017
video – Taonga source: Meghan Coppage

Memories of Susan Hamilton

Susan Hamilton is interviewed by Meghan Coppage, where she recounts a range of experiences from her life. From growing up at a Deaf school, to her memories of time in the Deaf community in bygone days, to seeing the changes at Kelston Deaf Education Centre including the transition to new school building.
Meghan Coppage
1992
article – Taonga source: Western Leader

Deaf learn Maori culture

A Maori house of learning for deaf children was opened at the Kelston Deaf Education Centre in Auckland yesterday after many hours of voluntary work by deaf adults and pupils.