New Report Highlights Opportunities & Challenges Across the NZSL Sector
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
The NZSL Sector Landscape Report (2026) is now available, providing a snapshot of the current New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) sector and identifying key opportunities to strengthen NZSL education, Deaf leadership, and language access across Aotearoa.
Prepared by the NZSL Business Network (NBN), the report brings together insights from Deaf-led NZSL businesses throughout New Zealand and presents a shared vision for a stronger, more sustainable NZSL ecosystem.
Demand for NZSL learning continues to grow as more New Zealanders recognise the value of NZSL in workplaces, schools, whānau, healthcare, and communities. Every year, Deaf-led NZSL providers support thousands of learners, including parents of Deaf children, teachers, healthcare professionals, public servants, businesses, and community organisations.
However, demand is now increasing faster than the sector's capacity to respond.
The report highlights that many Deaf-led NZSL businesses are operating with limited resources while working hard to meet growing national demand.
Key Challenges
The report identifies several challenges facing the NZSL sector:
Limited administrative and operational support
An ongoing shortage of qualified NZSL tutors and teachers
Rapidly increasing demand for NZSL courses
Limited opportunities for learners to practise NZSL outside the classroom
A lack of coordinated national data on NZSL learners
Without additional investment and collaboration, the sector will find it increasingly difficult to meet future demand.
Victoria Lessing, Director of Merge NZ and founder of the NZSL Business Network, believes the sector needs a coordinated approach to ensure long-term sustainability.
"Without a proper strategy and infrastructure to support NZSL businesses across New Zealand, it will be impossible to strengthen NZSL service delivery. Deaf-led organisations are already achieving remarkable outcomes with limited resources, but sustainable growth requires coordinated investment, workforce planning, and collaboration across the sector."
Building a Stronger NZSL Ecosystem
The report also highlights the importance of developing a coordinated NZSL business ecosystem that enables providers to better support learners and strengthen the long-term sustainability of the sector.
Kim Robinson, Manager of the NZSL Club Trust, explains:
"It is important to have an NZSL business ecosystem where organisations support one another by referring students when they are unable to offer a suitable course. We should also explore ways to subsidise learners so courses can reach the minimum numbers needed for businesses to remain sustainable while ensuring students continue to have access to NZSL learning."
The report notes that greater collaboration between providers would help improve access for learners while strengthening the long-term sustainability of Deaf-led NZSL businesses.
Supporting the Future of NZSL
The report identifies several priority areas for strengthening the sector:
Supporting Deaf-led NZSL businesses
Expanding access to NZSL learning across New Zealand
Increasing professional development, mentoring, and career pathways for NZSL tutors and teachers
Creating more opportunities for learners to use NZSL within their communities
Strengthening pathways into NZSL teaching careers
These initiatives would help strengthen NZSL as a living language while improving accessibility, inclusion, and participation for Deaf people across Aotearoa.
NZSL is one of New Zealand's official languages and is central to Deaf identity, culture, and wellbeing. Supporting NZSL requires more than legislative recognition. It requires sustained investment in education, workforce development, Deaf leadership, and sector collaboration.
A stronger NZSL ecosystem will benefit not only Deaf people, but also families, schools, workplaces, government agencies, and communities throughout New Zealand.
The NZSL Business Network hopes this report will encourage meaningful discussions with funders, government agencies, iwi, educational organisations, and the wider community about the future of NZSL.
The full NZSL Sector Landscape Report (2026) is available here:
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