A new 10-year strategy aims to strengthen New Zealand Sign Language, making it a more visible, valued part of everyday life.
Embedded video:
The strategy 'New Zealand Sign Language – everyone, everywhere, every day' reflects the Board’s ambitions for a strong and vibrant language that is recognised and embraced as living language by all New Zealanders.
“We want NZSL to be a language that supports and improves the lives of Deaf people, Turi Māori (Māori Deaf people) and NZSL users,” says NZSL Board Chair Catherine Greenwood.
The strategy takes a new approach by both supporting NZSL users to learn and use the language, and by ensuring non-NZSL users understand its importance and embrace its use.
The strategy’s five priority areas include supporting deaf and NZSL-using children and their families to learn and use NZSL and ensuring there is a skilled workforce to sustain that support.
Government departments will be required to develop capability plans to support the use of NZSL. These will include providing more information and services in NZSL and giving staff the opportunity to learn both the language and about Deaf culture.
“Given the ambition of the strategy, we have extended its life from 5 to 10 years so we can make progress on long-standing issues,” says Greenwood.
“NZSL is more than just an official language of New Zealand. It is vital for connection and inclusion and is used by many Deaf, Turi Māori, and NZSL using people.”
An initial action plan will be developed to coincide with the 20-year celebration of NZSL as an official language in April next year.
During the 2025/26 financial year, more than $650,000 will be invested in community initiatives, and almost $250,000 has been allocated in grants to maintain and promote the use of NZSL.
“We encourage all New Zealanders to incorporate NZSL into their daily life, in the same way kupu Māori have become part of everyday language,” says Greenwood.
Information about the strategy is available in Alternate Formats – NZSL, audio, Braille, Easy Read, and large print: NZSL Strategy 2026-2036