Profoundly deaf Karori resident Kirsten Sutherland lost her hearing as a toddler, grew up lip reading and received a cochlear implant, an electronic device designed to provide sound information, at the age of 10.
She was one of the approximately 100 members of the deaf community who celebrated the recognition of New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) as the nation’s third official language at the Beehive earlier this month.
“It was the best day for the deaf community, it felt awesome to be a part of the process and so powerful in the way,” she says.
The bill is expected to benefit deaf New Zealanders by allowing the unique language to be accorded equal status with that of spoken languages and by providing better access to justice. An immediate effect of the bill is to provide people with the right to use NZSL in legal proceedings like court trials, tribunals, or when dealing with government agencies.
NZSL is currently used by approximately 28,000 people, an estimated 7000 of whom are deaf.
Members of Wellington’s deaf community are really excited about the development.
Seatoun resident Shannon Morris believes the bill will expand the culture and respect of deaf people throughout New Zealand.
“I was born profoundly deaf without any history of deafness in my family and am really pleased that the bill has now been passed,” she says.
“Now deaf and hearing-impaired New Zealanders can take a huge sigh and celebrate that their language is official.”
Her profoundly deaf partner John Bennett, who currently studies architectural technology, became deaf as the result of a head injury when he was 18 months old.
He talks to hearing people and signs to deaf people and says he is “ecstatic” about the recent bill.
“It will increase awareness of deaf culture throughout New Zealand and encourage more people to learn to sign,” he says.
Disability Issues Minister Ruth Dyson says New Zealand Sign Language is native to our country and has a unique linguistic structure, which includes signs that express concepts from Maori culture.
“The passing of this bill marks a major reversal in the suppression of the deaf community’s language and culture.
“It is a substantial step towards achieving our vision of an inclusive society,” she says.
Sign languages are also officially recognised in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Switzerland, Ireland, Portugal, Greece and in some states and provinces of Canada and the United States of America.
The New Zealand Sign Language Bill passed its third reading in parliament on April 6 and was officially signed into law by the Governor-General on April 10.
For further information about the NZSL Bill go to www.odt.govt.nz/what-we-do/nzsl.
Photo Caption – GESTICULATING IS IN: Profoundly deaf members of the Deaf Association of New Zealand Kirsten Sutherland (left), John Bennett and Shannon Morris are over the moon at the recognition of New Zealand Sign Language as the third official language of New Zealand.
