Symbolic Gestures Do Not Support Deaf - NZSL Act Review leaves Deaf powerless and voiceless
Five years on the passing of the New Zealand Sign Language Act (2006), the Deaf community remains powerless and
voiceless.
The 2006 NZSL Act has just been reviewed. Deaf Aotearoa Chief Executive Rachel Noble says the review points out nothing
new and offers no solutions to how government agencies could better work with the Deaf community to address the issues.
“While there have been some advancements, overall Deaf people are no better off than they were before the Act was
written,” says Ms Noble.
“By offering no solutions to major issues, like accessibility to sign language interpreters, this review denies Deaf
people the ability to have a voice, to act as a partner or even to have a lead role in improving their status in New
Zealand society”.
The review was conducted to assess how government agencies are implementing the aims of the Act and suggest improvements
that may be needed. Deaf people and groups throughout the country made submissions to the Office of Disability Issues
highlighting key areas of concern, including the need for Deaf people to have a leadership role in Deaf issues, a strong
NZSL infrastructure and improved access to interpreters.
“In 2006, the Deaf Community of New Zealand rejoiced in the passing of the NZSL Act. We celebrated the recognition of
our language and culture, the acknowledgement of the history of oppression experienced by the community and at last,
held high hopes for improved access to information and services for Deaf,” says Ms Noble.
“However, the NZSL Act review fails to respond to the overwhelming call from the Deaf community to broaden the scope of
the Act beyond justice to include sectors like education and health. Neither does it address the systematic barriers and
inefficiencies around the provision of sign language interpreting services.”
Ms Noble says the review ignores the need for a national sign language strategy, which would link all activities related
to Deaf culture and use of NZSL across all government departments. Instead it suggests that some 'tweaks' within
government departments is all that is necessary.
“With no sign language strategy in place each department does its own “thing” so there is no consistency or linkages,
plus decisions are made by hearing non-NZSL users.”
Also of concern for the community is the blatant disrespect for Deaf people as equal citizens in New Zealand.
“ The key principle of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the New Zealand Disability
Strategy, 'nothing about us without us,' is ignored. The review suggests that Government Ministers could model best
practice by including a NZSL greeting at all official events, as is done in Maori, whether or not the content of the
minister's portfolio is relevant to Deaf people.”
“We Deaf are not interested in symbolic use of NZSL at the beginning of ministerial presentations, we are more
interested in the content of the Minister’s portfolios and their plans to engage with the Deaf community to find
effective solutions to our issues.”
Ms Noble says every day Deaf Aotearoa meets people who have been failed by the system, whose children experience
substandard education, who cannot access health care in sign language and who do not enjoy equal access to employment.
“Our issues are not trivial. Deaf experience barriers such as equal access to health, education, employment and
information in their daily life that can significantly reduce quality of life in comparison to their hearing peers”.
Community initiatives, like the annual NZSL Week in May, have seen an improvement in general awareness of New Zealand
Sign Language.
Ms Noble says the Deaf community is calling for the Disability Ministerial Committee to engage with them, to understand
what the submitters were saying.
“They need to know what the reality is and work with us, to make the solutions happen.”
ENDS