A New Era in the Right to Sign or no access to New Zealand’s two spoken support for families is not enough. It makes official languages, English and te reo it too difficult to create a natural learning Māori. In addition, there is a deep historic environment for children to acquire NZSL justification for the official status of te reo, skills as a foundational language. based on the rights affirmed in the Treaty of Waitangi. There is much to be learnt from previous reports and good practice examples. These include “deaf nests” and Kōhanga Reo in Education in NZSL New Zealand, and other countries which support sign language tuition and resources Article 24 of the Disability Convention for children and their families. highlights the right to education including how this can be realised for deaf children. Deaf students, other students reliant on It requires ensuring education “in the NZSL to communicate and their families most appropriate languages”. For deaf need access to NZSL. This is true whether people this includes learning through sign they are in regular schools, special units, language. resource centres or schools for deaf children. While some NZSL support and The right to education has been identified resources are available, opportunities to as a high priority because of deaf people’s come together with NZSL signing peers are persistent under-achievement in the scarce. Wherever a deaf child is schooled, education system. Improving education face-to-face NZSL learning opportunities outcomes for deaf children and young should be available alongside those people will have a significant impact in options that can be accessed through video many other areas of their life including technologies. their right to work and right to an adequate standard of living. The status of sign language users throughout history has been closely bound It is crucial that children acquire language up with how education systems have skills early in life. Children born deaf or responded to providing deaf children with who become deaf before their speech is access to sign language. Deaf schools play well-established often depend on NZSL to an important role in the transmission and communicate. Most deaf children are born maintenance of sign languages. into hearing families who do not have prior experience of childhood deafness. The Training in NZSL and deaf culture is minimal current mix of locally available evening for staff working with deaf students. classes, minimal NZSL resources and limited Interpreters need to be an available option 9