Sign of the times

Sign of the times

Wilton resident David McKee, who has been profoundly deaf by birth, is excited by the prospect of New Zealand sign language becoming the country’s third official language saying it would legitimise his mother tongue and acknowledge the fact that deaf community has its own language and culture.

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David McKee

Rachel Locker McKee

Rachel Locker McKee

Taonga source:

Unknown

Reference number:

SignDNA – Deaf National Archive New Zealand, A2005-002

Bibliographic source:

Unknown, 2005

Copyright status:

This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Note:

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video – Taonga source: Handmade Productions Aotearoa

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In April 2006, New Zealand Parliament declared NZSL to be an official language - the culmination of a 20-year battle by the deaf community, and a true hallmark in the recognition of their native language. 'Sign of the Times' is about the deaf New Zealanders who fought to have their language recognised as a real language and as a viable means of communication. The film documents the community's celebration of the official recognition of their language and looks at the community's ongoing hopes and aspirations for their language and culture.

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article – Taonga source: Unknown

Sign of the times

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article – Taonga source: The Dominion

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New Zealand Sign Language must be given official recognition as a language or it will die, Deaf Association President Jennifer Brain says.

article – Taonga source: The Dominion

Sign of the times

Sign language interpreter Rosie Henley translates for the deaf beside Speaker of the House Jonathon Hunt as MPs debate legislation making New Zealand sign language an official language.

publication – Taonga source: Oticon Foundation

Soundscape: February 2006

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publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Journal: June 1991 (Vol. 5, No. 2)

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing