Key Messages from NZSL Board November 2024

The NZSL Board met recently on 8 and 9 November and would like to share the following information:
• We had a full agenda for our last formal meeting of 2024. We discussed progress on our strategic projects, like the new NZSL Strategy, and work on an interpreter standards system.
NZSL Strategy
•Regarding the work on a new NZSL Strategy, Whaikaha has developed a new framework for the strategy, underpinned by a concept used in the growth of te reo Māori.
•This concept is to focus priorities and actions within a strategy in two ways - on language revitalisation and language integration.
•Actions on language revitalisation are targeted at the community of language users who depend on the language - the Deaf community. Actions on language integration target the rest of society to make the use of NZSL an everyday occurrence - just like saying ‘Kia ora’ is now an everyday occurrence.
•The Board has approved five draft strategic priorities and several proposed actions to take forward in the strategy. These priorities and actions are based on information gathered through engagement with the Deaf community over the last couple of years, and targeted stakeholder engagement earlier this year.
•The next step is for Whaikaha to develop a full draft strategy and seek the Minister for Disability Issue’s approval of the strategy. Then the Board and Whaikaha will consult with you and the wider public on the strategy, in early 2025. We look forward to getting your feedback.
Interpreter Standards
•The Board received an update on work to date on the adoption of an interpreter standards system.
•The Board recognises the importance of interpreter standards to both the Deaf and NZSL Interpreter communities and so are very keen to take our time to ensure the right approach.
•Whaikaha has made good progress on developing an in depth understanding how NAATI would work as a professional registration system for NZSL interpreters, if the Board adopts it.
•Whaikaha is currently working on providing clarity to the Board on the feasibility of other professional registration options that might be available to us.
•The Board will provide an update on this work in early 2025.
Meeting with Ministers of Education
•The Board and Te Rōpū Kaitiaki met with the Ministers of Education and Disability Issues on 5 November.
•The meeting was productive with good discussion on a number of issues and barriers for deaf and hard of hearing children in the education system.
•One of the main aims of this meeting was to build awareness about the needs of Deaf children within the education system, and the barriers to learning. That is, that the education of deaf children needs centred around learning NZSL through a language development and cultural model, not a learning support, disability focused model.
•We also touched on topics such as the barriers for deaf people to become teachers and the NZSL proficiency of teachers of the deaf.
Community Grants - 2025
•The Board has reviewed the accessibility and equity of the current NZSL Community Grants process. Improvements have been made to increase clarity of the application process, project eligibility criteria, reporting requirements and timeframes.
•Community Grants for the 2025 round will open on 24 February 2025 until 23 March 2025. We encourage you to start thinking about your project ideas now. We plan to have Q+A sessions next year where you can drop in and ask questions in NZSL or English.
Te Rōpū Kaitiaki update
•Te Rōpū Kaitiaki met on October 18 and 19.
•Te Rōpū Kaitiaki met with Figure NZ, Te Taura Whiri i te reo Māori (Māori Language Commission), the Ministry of Education, Victoria University of Wellington, and two members attended the Uhi Tai Māori Language Planning symposium.
•The Board was updated on changes to the action plan for Te Rōpū Kaitiaki.
•Te Rōpū Kaitiaki will share an update on the Board’s Facebook so look out for this video coming soon.
Deputy Chairperson update
•The Deputy Chairpersons role is currently filled by Joanne Becker and Jaime Brown. Their terms have been extended to March 2025.
Meeting with Deaf Aotearoa’s Executive Board
•The purpose of this meeting was to share priorities, and to discuss ways the Board and Deaf Aotearoa’s Executive Board can work together on shared interests, to enhance the collective impact of both Boards.
•Topics discussed included Deaf education, updating the joint Memorandum of Understanding between the two Boards, and the refresh of the NZSL Strategy.