The NZSL Board promotes and maintains NZSL and provides expert advice to government and the community on NZSL. It has up to 10 members, all of whom are NZSL users, and a majority Deaf NZSL users.
What's on this page
The NZSL Board's role and responsibilities
The NZSL Board was established by Cabinet in May 2014 and the founding members were appointed in May 2015.
The Office for Disability Issues created an NZSL Experts Advisory Group in response to a Human Rights Commission inquiry into NZSL (July 2012 to June 2013). The inquiry found that NZSL is crucial to the ability of Deaf people to learn, communicate and participate in society. This advisory group recommended the NZSL Board be established.
The purpose of the NZSL Board is to:
- promote and maintain the use of NZSL by ensuring the development and preservation and acquisition of the language
- ensure the rights of Deaf people and NZSL users to use NZSL as outlined in the NZSL Act 2006, United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and other national and relevant international legislation
- provide expert advice to government and the community on NZSL, including recommendations on allocation of the NZSL Fund.
The NZSL Board has responsibilities across leadership, advice, strategy and coordination and monitoring.
Board members
- Catherine Greenwood (Chair) – Term ends 30 June 2028
- Rāhera Turner - Term ends 30 June 2029
- Jo Witko - Term ends 30 June 2029
- Thora Huebner - Term ends 30 June 2020
- Joanne Becker – Term ends 30 June 2028
- Jaime Brown – Term ends 30 June 2028
- Sarah Mason – Term ends 30 June 2027
- Rosita Rapihana – Terms ends 30 June 2027
- Kim Robinson – Term ends 30 June 2027
More information on NZSL Board members
The NZSL Fund
The New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Fund was established by the Government to support projects that promote and maintain NZSL. The Minister for Disability Issues agrees policies and criteria for the NZSL Fund and the NZSL Board oversees the fund including for:
- an annual contestable NZSL community grants
- ongoing contracts to support the promotion and maintenance of NZSL.
Contact
If you have questions about our work on the maintenance and promotion of NZSL, please email nzsl@whaikaha.govt.nz.