This year New Zealand Sign Language Interpreters of both Maori and English will sign during formal speeches at the Treaty Grounds.

The Office of Disability Issues has come to the party to provide this service in Waitangi this February as a direct result of lobbying by Whangarei-based Tiaho Trust, a Northland disability-led organisation

“The Office of Disability Issues and the Waitangi Trust are both showing tremendous leadership through this initiative,” said CEO of Tiaho Trust, Jonny Wilkinson.

Although there are no clear statistics on the number of Deaf people in New Zealand. The 2006 census showed that 24 090 people use New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL)

New Zealand Sign Language was formally recognised as the third official language of New Zealand along with English and Maori in 2006 under the New Zealand Sign Language Act.

“Using New Zealand Sign Language Interpreters on Waitangi Day sets a benchmark for other significant events in New Zealand,” says Pita Paraone, Chairperson of the Waitangi Trust board.

Alana Best, the Deaf Youth Co-ordinator for Northland Parents of the Deaf Children Inc. Signed “I am profoundly Deaf. I’m ecstatic and thrilled that I can understand what the important people are saying without having to rely on captioning on TV replay of the ceremonies at a later time. It will be the first time in my life that I will be watching and knowing what they are saying on the actual Waitangi ground among others instead of waiting for the night news with captions on. I will be there to witness the moment where Maori Deaf are actually included in the celebrations of their own ancestors’ decisions for the first time in the history.” Northland Parents for Deaf Children Inc, has been lobbying for tri-lingual interpreters at Waitangi Day along with Tiaho Trust.

Interpreters will be at the; Dawn Karakia on the Whare Rununga, the Church Service on the Hobson Beach stage and interpret the narration at the Royal NZ Navy Beat and Retreat and Ceremonial Sunset Ceremony on the Treaty Grounds.

Because the interpreters stand alongside the speakers, any televised coverage of these events will be broadcasted New Zealand Wide, enabling access to the wider Deaf community.

ENDS

© Scoop Media