A New Era in the Right to Sign Technology (AUT) and Victoria University of little measureable change in the level and Wellington (VUW) could be an avenue for range of NZSL resources available to deaf increasing NZSL proficiency levels of staff in students in schools. deaf education. Although numbers of deaf children are Valuing NZSL proficiency is an important small, the Fitzgerald Report proposed that incentive for upskilling the current the priority was to develop systems that education workforce that supports deaf would support NZSL users to access the students. This includes the remuneration curriculum. This is regardless of the number linked to NZSL proficiency. While most of students involved. It emphasised that education personnel working with deaf families would determine demand – and students are not fluent NZSL users, a small that would be highly dependent on the number are. The Commission understands availability of quality NZSL resources.127 that, while this is reflected in an additional language payment for teaching staff, there Use of information technology will play a is no equivalent payment for teacher’s aides key role in NZSL planning for the future. who are proficient in NZSL. It presents ever-increasing opportunities to overcome some of the disadvantages Training deaf people who already have of a small and dispersed deaf population. linguistic and cultural skills for working with The Government has funded an initiative deaf students has been identified as another to provide ultrafast broadband Internet way of increasing NZSL competency in access to all schools. Currently, broadband deaf education. This might include training enables some visual communication for deaf people for roles in early intervention deaf students through video programmes teams. They could be teacher’s aides, such as Skype. language assistants or take on other roles in schools which would support NZSL learning New technology has the potential to enable environments. These issues should be real-time video conferencing and virtual explored and progressed further.125 classrooms. This could play a valuable role linking deaf students to NZSL. Options Some NZSL resources and curriculum include using peers in other locations, materials for teaching have been developed increasing the NZSL capacity of the deaf by the DECs. The Fitzgerald Report education workforce, and expanding NZSL suggested reviewing current resources access to the curriculum.128 and developing additional ones to address identified gaps.126 Since then, the In determining the Wai 262 claim, the Commission understands there has been Waitangi Tribunal was highly critical of the 45