What SPELD NZ does

SPELD NZ is a not-for-profit organization and registered New Zealand charity (Charities number: CC46602), founded in 1971 and headquartered in Wellington. It specializes in supporting children and adults with dyslexia and other specific learning disabilities (SLD), delivering diagnostic assessments using Woodcock-Johnson test batteries, one-to-one tuition grounded in Structured Literacy methodology, and accredited professional training for educators including a NZQA-recognised Level 5 Certificate Course in Specific Learning Disabilities and assessor training recognised by the NZ Council for Educational Research. The organization holds NZQA Category 1 provider status with 'Excellent' ratings across all criteria and claims to be New Zealand's leading nationwide SLD provider.

Revenue is generated through fee-for-service assessments and tuition, paid training courses for educators, recurring annual memberships (which include The Record magazine and advocacy support), donations from supporters, and service contracts where government agencies — primarily ACC and Oranga Tamariki — refer and fund clients. SPELD NZ receives no direct government funding and operates independently. Distribution is domestic-only and direct: services are delivered via the national office, a network of credentialed assessors and teachers, school referrals, university disability services partnerships (AUT, Victoria University of Wellington), and an online Moodle platform hosting Kōwae Ako learning capsules. Marketing is advocacy-led rather than commercial, spanning the website, YouTube, Facebook, Radio New Zealand appearances, annual conferences, and parliamentary submissions to influence systemic change for neurodiverse learners.

Name

SPELD NZ

Legal name

SPELD New Zealand Incorporated

Website

https://speld.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SPELD NZ is a Wellington-based not-for-profit founded in 1971 that delivers Woodcock-Johnson diagnostic assessments, one-to-one Structured Literacy tuition, and accredited educator training for New Zealand children and adults with dyslexia and other specific learning disabilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Educational Support Services (611710), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Assistive Technology for LD (Reading/Writing Tools & Training) (EDAKAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Parent & Caregiver Training for LD/Dyslexia Support (EDAKAJAJ)

Keywords

• Dyslexia assessment services
• Specific learning disabilities
• Structured literacy tutoring
• Teacher training courses
• Specialized educational support

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Diagnostic Assessment Services: Fee-for-service diagnostic assessments for individuals with suspected specific learning disabilities, conducted by trained assessors using Woodcock-Johnson test batteries.
2. One-on-one Tuition: Specialized tutoring services provided by qualified classroom teachers with SPELD NZ training, offered for children and adults with dyslexia/SLD.
3. Training Courses: Professional development courses for educators including Introduction to SLD, Teaching Certificate in SLD, and Assessor Training. Accredited by NZQA.
4. Membership: Annual membership providing resources, advocacy, and support for individuals and families affected by SLD.
5. Donations: Voluntary contributions from supporters; SPELD NZ is a registered charity and receives no government funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SPELD NZ is a not-for-profit organization that provides diagnostic assessments using Woodcock-Johnson test batteries, one-to-one specialized tuition for children and adults with dyslexia and other specific learning disabilities, and accredited professional training for educators including a Level 5 Certificate in Specific Learning Disabilities and Assessor Training recognized by the NZ Council for Educational Research.

Product overview

SPELD NZ is New Zealand's leading not-for-profit provider specializing in supporting people with dyslexia and other specific learning disabilities. The organization operates as a service-based nonprofit offering diagnostic assessment, one-on-one tuition, and professional training programs. Core offerings include Diagnostic Assessment using Woodcock-Johnson test batteries, One-to-one Tuition delivered by qualified teachers with specialized SPELD NZ training, and Training Programs for educators including the Level 5 Certificate Course and Assessor Training. Additional services include Kōwae Ako / Learning Capsules (online learning resources), Membership Support (resources, advocacy, and financial assistance), and The Record Magazine (quarterly publication for members). All services are delivered through trained assessors and educators across New Zealand.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Research published in NZ Journal of Educational Studies (Vol.49, No1, 2014) demonstrates SPELD NZ remedial intervention effectiveness for dyslexia.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Tertiary Education Commission (TEC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2021SPELD NZ participates on a TEC working party established to improve support for dyslexic tertiary students, contributing to policy development and implementation.
• ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerACC refers clients to SPELD NZ for diagnostic assessments and ongoing tuition services, covering costs for eligible individuals with injuries or conditions affecting learning.
• Oranga Tamariki (Ministry for Children)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerOranga Tamariki refers clients and funds diagnostic assessments and support services for children under their care who have specific learning disabilities.
• NZ Council for Educational Research (NZCER)coreTechnology or IntegrationNZCER distributes the Woodcock-Johnson diagnostic assessment tool in New Zealand. SPELD NZ assessor training is recognized by NZCER for competency in using this tool.
• Auckland University of Technology (AUT)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAUT's Disability Support Services works with SPELD NZ to provide support for students with SLD, including over 1400 students with learning disabilities in 2021.
• Victoria University WellingtonsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerVUW's Disability Services sees over 2000 students with disabilities annually, with about a quarter having SLD. Partners with SPELD NZ for assessment recognition and support strategies.
• The Education HubsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerA not-for-profit research organization that bridges the gap between research and teaching practice. SPELD NZ collaborates on research and endorses their reports on neurodiversity and education.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Learning Ally: US-based non-profit providing audiobooks, literacy resources, and professional development for students with dyslexia and other learning disabilities. A larger incumbent with broader geographic reach that overlaps with SPELD NZ's mission of supporting dyslexic learners through specialized resources and educator training.
• International Dyslexia Association: The largest global non-profit organization dedicated to dyslexia, providing resources, research, professional training, and advocacy across multiple countries. While broader in geographic scope and scale than SPELD NZ, it operates in the same specialty space with overlapping professional development and policy work.

Direct peers

• Davis Dyslexia Association International: Global non-profit offering alternative dyslexia intervention methodology (Davis Method) with facilitator training programs and licensing. Directly competes with SPELD NZ's Structured Literacy approach for the same specialist teacher training market globally, though based in the US.
• British Dyslexia Association: UK-based charity dedicated to supporting people with dyslexia through assessment, training, and advocacy services. Operates with a similar organizational structure—membership-based non-profit providing professional training, screening tools, and policy influence—making it directly comparable in mission and operating model.
• Dyslexia-SPELD Foundation (SPELD Australia): The Australian counterpart to SPELD NZ, also focused on supporting people with specific learning disabilities including dyslexia. Provides similar services including diagnostic assessments, teacher training, and advocacy—making it the closest direct peer operating in a comparable English-speaking, trans-Tasman market context.

Emerging players

• Nessy Learning: Commercial provider of dyslexia-friendly digital learning programs, teacher training, and screening tools used in schools globally. Represents a more commercially-oriented model competing with SPELD NZ's digital products and teacher training, though primarily for-profit rather than charity-based.
• Made by Dyslexia: A global charity founded by Kate Griggs focused on dyslexia advocacy, teacher training, and workplace inclusion. While newer and more advocacy-focused than SPELD NZ, it increasingly competes in the same teacher training and employer services segments with a strong digital presence.

Regional players

• Scottish Dyslexia Association: Scotland-focused charity providing assessment, training, and support services for people with dyslexia in a defined national territory. Highly comparable operating model to SPELD NZ including accredited training courses, member services, and policy advocacy within an education system context.
• Code Read Dyslexia Network Australia: Australian not-for-profit network advocating for systematic early identification and evidence-based intervention for dyslexia in schools. Operates as a regional advocacy and support organization comparable to SPELD NZ's policy-facing activities, with overlapping teacher training objectives.

Others

• Orton-Gillingham International Society: Professional society accrediting training in the Orton-Gillingham approach, a structured literacy methodology that overlaps significantly with SPELD NZ's evidence-based teaching framework. Functions as a complementary standards body and indirect competitor in the specialized teacher training credentialing space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCp2Ce2zrGvmNb_DU_q7i5Rg
• Facebookfacebook.com/SPELD-New-Zealand-1512199148997024
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/speld-nz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SPELD NZ