Literacy through braille reading and writing has been taught at the Blind Foundation since it was founded in 1890. In order to teach and transcribe braille, teachers and transcribers must first learn the braille code.
At least since the early 1960s teachers of braille have been able to gain qualifications as evidence of their competency with the code. Today in New Zealand the braille code is taught to the teachers and transcribers by staff at Massey University, the Blind and Low Vision Education Network NZ (BLENNZ) and the Blind Foundation.
BANZAT was set up to, among other tasks, accredit those who wish to teach or produce the braille code. BANZAT oversees the following qualifications: