News & Events

Background and why has the Ministry of Education appointed a Limited Statutory Manager (LSM)?

The board of Ko Taku Reo – Deaf Education New Zealand was re-established in November 2025 after being dissolved for three years.
The role of a school board is a big one, and an important one that many board members tell us it takes at least a year to pick up the threads enough to be truly effective. Sometimes, the continuity of having an experienced Principal or Presiding Member to guide a new board member through the transition is enough.

With an entirely new board working with a new principal, the Ministry wants to provide the board of Ko Taku Reo some transitional support while they undertake board training and orient themselves into the role.

The Ministry of Education is mindful that with a new board and new Executive Principal there is a change in the level of risk and extra support at this time can be beneficial. Additionally, it is standard practice for the Ministry to appoint a Limited Statutory Manager (LSM) as a step process when withdrawing a Commissioner that has been in place for a significant period of time. For these reasons the Ministry of Education are appointing a Limited Statutory Manager to take on some of the duties and responsibilities of the board during this transitional period, giving the board time to establish its position and collective ways of working.

The Ministry have proposed to bring in a new LSM service provider with a specialist skillset, in keeping with this fresh start the Ko Taku Reo board is embarking on. Once the Ministry and the board are satisfied that the additional support is no longer needed, it will be withdrawn.

What is a Limited Statutory Manager?
A Limited Statutory Manager is an experienced person appointed by the Ministry of Education to work alongside the school’s Board to provide extra support and expertise in specific areas of the Board’s responsibilities when needed. An LSM works with the board to provide additional expertise and an extra pair of hands to deal with work that might otherwise detract from the board’s ability to settle into its own working style.

How long is an LSM appointed for?
An LSM is only appointed for as long as needed, and the appointment is reviewed regularly so the school can return to full self-governance as quickly as possible. The length of the intervention is determined by the scoping activity conducted by the LSM. This may vary depending on the systems or processes involved. The LSM will work efficiently to complete these requirements as quickly as possible.

The announcement can be found here in the gazette https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2025-go7251

The Ko Taku Reo translation is the agreed communication between the ministry and the board/Kura.