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The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care released its final report on Wednesday 24 July. The report is available on the Royal Commission’s website at www.abuseincare.org.nz.

Kelston School for the Deaf and van Asch College are both named in the Commission’s report. Some former students who experienced bullying, abuse and neglect at the schools shared this with the Royal Commission of Inquiry. In 2020 Kelston and van Asch were combined into one national school, Ko Taku Reo – Deaf Education New Zealand.

This report highlights a sad chapter in the history of Deaf Education in Aotearoa New Zealand, and we want to acknowledge the people who bravely shared their experiences and the people who have supported them to be heard.

As the kaitiaki of Deaf Education in New Zealand, we again apologise to the survivors and their families and whānau.

Ko Taku Reo is committed to playing our part in creating a safe Aotearoa New Zealand for Deaf and hard of hearing students and we have policies and practices in place to support this.