News & Events

Kia ora,

After the 2011 Christchurch Earthquake, it was identified that Ko Taku Reo (van Asch at the time) would be eligible for support under the Ministry of Education's Christchurch Rebuild Programme. This process included a review of the site and the earthquake's impact on the buildings. The assessment also provided a detailed understanding of the damage and the ongoing costs associated with it, and determined that these costs are not sustainable. As the Ministry of Education own the land/site/buildings, we have been working with the Ministry, exploring all options.

The Ministry of Education's review of our campus as part of the Christchurch Rebuild Programme has now been completed. The Ministry of Education has recommended that Ko Taku Reo will move into new buildings on a site in Halswell, where BLENNZ and Southern Health will also be sited in their own buildings.

The Ko Taku Reo board has agreed in principle to explore a co-location and relocation of our Sumner campus to this more central site in Halswell, subject to final planning. It is important to us that our autonomy and unique character are retained. We will have our own buildings on the site and will operate independently from BLENNZ, and Southern Health, while benefiting from shared facilities, where appropriate.

We are working with the Ministry of Education as this moves forward. On our school community's behalf, we have already made the Ministry aware of the cultural significance of our current Sumner site, and that we want to preserve and honour this legacy as we transition.

To ensure that our new campus responds to the needs of our students, families, staff, and community, and retains the special character that makes this place unique, we are seeking input on its design. We will make sure there will be opportunities for you to share your feedback with us throughout this process. Right now, we have a survey open, which is your chance to help shape what you would like our new home to look and feel like, a space that truly belongs to all of us.

We are committed to ensuring that the stories, relationships, and identity connected to this place are carried forward with us.

In the meantime, if you would like to share your memories of your time at the Sumner campus, formerly van Asch, please visit the Deaf Education History website, where you can sign up to share your stories and photos and keep Deaf education history alive.

We will keep you informed as this process develops. If you have questions in the meantime, please email: whanaufeedback@kotakureo.school.nz.

Ngā mihi nui,

Victoria Manning
Board Chair