20 Years of the NZSL Act: Looking Back, Moving Forward

Credit: Artwork by Rachel Coppage and photograph by Royce Flynn.

This year marks an important milestone for Aotearoa New Zealand, as New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) celebrates 20 years as an official language.

It is a significant milestone and a chance to reflect on the progress that has been made, while also being honest about what still needs to improve to ensure Deaf people can fully access and participate in all parts of society.

How It All Started

The NZSL Act 2006, which recognised NZSL as an official language, was passed on 6 April 2006 following decades of determined advocacy led by the Deaf Association of New Zealand (now Deaf Aotearoa) and the wider Deaf community.

At the time, Ruth Dyson, a Labour Party MP who had been influenced by her exposure to NZSL through a Deaf child in Christchurch, spoke about the importance of recognising NZSL and the experiences Deaf people had endured for generations.

She reflected on the many personal stories shared by Deaf people and families, including experiences within the education system where Deaf children were punished for using sign language, with some having their hands tied back to stop them from signing. Deaf people had endured years of being told that their language was inferior to spoken languages, and many were denied the right to fully access language and communication in their everyday lives.

Despite these barriers and generations of oppression, NZSL survived, continued to evolve, and remained a strong and vital part of the Deaf community and Aotearoa New Zealand.

Ruth Dyson stated:

For many people, the passing of the NZSL Act was a moment of pride, celebration, and hope - a major step towards greater inclusion, recognition, and visibility for the Deaf community.

Sign of the Times – Watch the Story

The documentary Sign of the Times captures the passing of the NZSL Act in Parliament reflects on this significant moment for NZSL in Aotearoa New Zealand.

A short clip from the full documentary is included below.

Watch the full documentary produced by Handmade Films Aotearoa - link here

The Impact of the NZSL Act (Merge NZ Perspective)

From our perspective at Merge NZ, the NZSL Act has made a real difference, but it is not the finish line. Here are some examples of what has improved over the past 20 years, and what still needs further development:

What’s Improved

• NZSL is becoming more visible and recognised, including increased presence on national television and public platforms

• Awareness and understanding of Deaf culture, Deaf values, NZSL, and Deaf Gain have increased across communities, workplaces, education settings, media, and public services, especially within Deaf education settings

• There are more opportunities to learn NZSL through community courses, workplaces, schools, tertiary education, online platforms, and private providers

• More NZSL businesses and organisations have been established, providing increased NZSL learning opportunities and services

• An emerging pool of NZSL-specialised roles and careers has developed, including educators, interpreters and translators, lecturers, consultants, presenters, entrepreneurs, social media creators, avatar creators, performers, theatre specialists, and filmmakers

• Funding is now available through the NZSL Fund, supporting NZSL Week campaigns, camps, community events, arts and media projects, workshops, and other NZSL initiatives

What Still Needs Work

• Many services, government agencies, businesses, entertainment platforms, and websites are still not fully accessible in NZSL

• NZSL is still not widely taught or embedded within schools and education systems across Aotearoa New Zealand

• Deaf children do not have a legal right to education in NZSL, and many families do not receive the support they need to learn and use NZSL in everyday life

• There is a serious shortage of qualified NZSL tutors across Aotearoa New Zealand, making it difficult to meet increasing demand for NZSL education and services

• Many NZSL businesses and organisations continue to face challenges with workforce capacity, sustainability, and meeting growing demand for NZSL services and community access across Aotearoa New Zealand

• Stronger collaboration and regular networking between Deaf and NZSL-related organisations is still needed to improve communication, strengthen partnerships, and support coordinated planning and development across the NZSL sector

Victoria adds that Merge NZ continues to support the NZSL Business Network group to encourage collaboration, future planning, and stronger NZSL service delivery across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Looking Ahead

The NZSL Act was an important step, but it was only the beginning. There is still a need for ongoing commitment to make sure Deaf people can fully participate in all parts of life. This means better access, better awareness, and continued action.

There is also a need for strong leadership within the Deaf and NZSL community, alongside continued growth and sustainability of NZSL businesses and services across Aotearoa New Zealand to meet growing demand.

In Conclusion

Recognition is given to the Deaf community, including Deaf organisations, NZSL businesses, leaders, pioneers, advocates, and supporters who worked hard to make the NZSL Act a reality. Recognition is also given to the government and Members of Parliament who supported the passing of the NZSL Act in 2006.

Twenty years on, NZSL remains a vital part of Aotearoa New Zealand.

The journey continues.