without valuing the role played by NZSL
Disability Convention and NZSL Act. It would
interpreters. There are no minimum
acknowledge the vital role deaf people play
interpreter standards outside court
in the maintenance, promotion and survival
settings or any system to assess or rank
of their language.
the competency level of interpreters
after graduation. Workforce development
There is no monitoring of when and
options, such as potential registration
if government agencies consult with
processes and a more robust complaints
representatives of the deaf community on
mechanism, need some external resourcing
matters relating to NZSL, or with whom they
to be sustainable. The current focus on
consult. The Commission proposes improving
encouraging a greater supply of interpreters
this by establishing a formalised partnership
is unlikely to be successful unless there is
mechanism.
funding to cover current interpreting gaps.
There should also be incentives for people
In countries that have recognised a national
to work away from larger cities or to gain
sign language some have created an entity
specialist skills.
with custodial responsibilities for the
language. In 2005, the Justice and Electoral
Promoting and maintaining
NZSL
Select Committee considered submissions
on the NZSL Bill. It recommended that
serious consideration be given to several
improvements. These included establishing
Under international and domestic law, the
an advisory group to monitor the effects of
New Zealand Government has obligations
the NZSL Act, providing a focus for contact
to maintain and protect NZSL. It must
between government and the community,
closely consult and actively involve
and looking at new areas in which work
disabled people in this work. The NZSL
could be done.
Act has been criticised for not providing a
mechanism for promoting and maintaining
This Inquiry revisits that recommendation.
the language.
It has considered overseas models as well
as the role Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori
This Inquiry report has drawn from the 2011
(the Māori Language Commission) plays in
Waitangi Tribunal findings that spelt out
relation to te reo Māori. It agrees with the
what is necessary for an effective language
Select Committee’s choice of an advisory
strategy for te reo Māori. These emphasised
group. But this should only be as an interim
the importance of partnership. Partnership
measure to develop options for an NZSL
with the deaf community would give real
Statutory Board, similar to the successful
effect to government obligations under the
model in Belgium.
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