A New Era in the Right to Sign promote and maintain the use of New Zealand Sign Language by”: c government services and information should be made accessible to the Deaf community a declaring New Zealand Sign Language to be an official language using appropriate means (including the use of NZSL). of New Zealand The NZSL Act is silent on the use of sign b providing for the use of New language in education. This has been Zealand Sign Language in legal criticised given the importance the deaf proceedings community places on access to NZSL in schools. There is a known positive link c empowering the making of regulations setting competency between the status of a sign language and its use within the education sector.20 standards for the interpretation in legal proceedings of New Zealand The provisions and wording of the NZSL Sign Language Act draw closely on those of the MLA. But there is a significant difference between d stating principles to guide the provisions in the two acts. This is the government departments in the absence in the NZSL Act of powers similar promotion and use of New Zealand to those assigned to the Māori Language Sign Language. Commission. This has the power to foster and regulate community and official uses of Section 9(1) clarifies that government the language and the associated government departments should be guided, so far as funds for implementation.21 The MLA also reasonably practicable, by the following provides more direction regarding the principles: administration of competency standards for interpreters in legal proceedings. a the Deaf community should be consulted on matters relating to The government has responsibilities to NZSL (including, for example, the promote and protect both of its official promotion of the use of NZSL) languages. Te reo Māori and NZSL are each vital to the expression of culture and b NZSL should be used in the identity. In addition, there is a deep historic promotion to the public of justification for the official status of te reo, government services and in the based on the rights affirmed in the Treaty provision of information to the of Waitangi. In the case of NZSL, there is a public strong practical need for its official status. 23