Renowned dyslexia expert Neil MacKay to speak in Rotorua at open event

International expert in dyslexia Neil Mackay speaks in the city later this month.

Rotorua people will get the opportunity to learn about living, or supporting someone, with dyslexia when internationally renowned expert Neil MacKay speaks in the city later this month.

The event will be accessible to all thanks to the collaboration of a group, including Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust and John Paul College.

MacKay is an internationally renowned expert on dyslexia and is the international consultant to the Dyslexia Foundation of New Zealand, as well as to education authorities in the UK, Hong Kong and around the world.

The event, on May 27, was organised by John Paul College learning support centre co-ordinator, Paulene Walsh.

Walsh said she was particularly thrilled the event would be accessible to all, through a gold coin donation.

"Dyslexia affects an estimated one in 10 New Zealanders, including 70,000 school children.

"This is about empowering teachers, students, and whānau to help support themselves and their students or children in the challenges that face learning support students in everyday life – at school, home and work.

"Our learning support students face barriers daily and financial barriers is a block from the beginning.

"Being able to bring Mr MacKay to Rotorua to share his expertise with the wider community is a fantastic opportunity."

Walsh said it was important speakers of this calibre talked in Rotorua.

"Thanks to the generosity of Rotorua Trust, we can bring Mr MacKay to Rotorua for the benefit of the whole community. He's at the cutting edge of research on dyslexia and will bring valuable insight."

Rotorua Trust chairman Stewart Edward said the trust gave Walsh seed funding to help enable a series of speakers to come to Rotorua – including MacKay.

A talk last year by resilience specialist, Dr Lucy Hone, had a fantastic response, Edward said.

MacKay's talk will be held on Monday May 27, 6pm to 8pm at John Paul College. Entry is a gold coin donation and you can register with paulene.walsh@jpc.school.nz.