The New Zealand Sign Language Strategy 2026-2036 will guide the work of the NZSL Board to maintain and promote the use of NZSL by Deaf People and other NZSL users. This strategy is also intended to guide the work of Government agencies.
What's on this page
The strategy is titled 'New Zealand Sign Language – everyone, everywhere, every day'. This reflects the NZSL Board’s ambitions for a strong and vibrant language that is recognised and embraced as a living language for all New Zealanders. The strategy aims to support NZSL users to learn and use the language, and to ensure non-NZSL users understand its importance and embrace its use.
Contents of the strategy in NZSL and English
Each page covers one section of the strategy. You can watch an NZSL video for each section.
- Minister's foreword
- NZSL Board Chair foreword
- Te Rōpū Kaitiaki kupu whakataki / foreword
- Executive Summary
- The Strategy is about NZSL and the people that use NZSL
- Refreshing the NZSL Strategy
- The NZSL Strategy is based on two strategic approaches
- Five priority areas sit under the two approaches
- Priority area: acquisition and learning
- Priority area: evidence and data
- Priority area: Deaf and NZSL users
- Priority area: public sector
- Priority area: celebrating NZSL
- Implementing the refresh of the NZSL Strategy
- Measuring change
- QR codes and acknowledgements
Alternate formats
Downloads
Full strategy
NZSL Strategy 2026-2036 (Word)
NZSL Strategy 2026-2036 (PDF)