New Zealand Sign Language

New Zealand Sign Language

New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) is the language of New Zealand’s deaf community and was made an official language by the New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006. NZSL can express concepts from both English and te reo Māori but is itself a distinct language. Find out more about NZSL, NZ Sign Language Week, and browse NZSL resources.

About NZ Sign Language Week

New Zealand Sign Language Week this year will run from Monday 6 to Sunday 12 May 2024. This year's theme is "an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere".

Deaf Aotearoa organises this celebration of one of the country’s official languages, New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL). NZSL Week helps promote the language and aims to raise awareness about New Zealand’s Deaf community. It also provides the Deaf community a chance to put their hands up and be heard, and to stand proud as Deaf as well as promoting their language and culture.

New Zealand Sign Language

New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) is the language of New Zealand’s deaf community and was made an official language by the New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006. NZSL can express concepts from both English and te reo Māori but is itself a distinct language.
Rachel McKee, New Zealand Sign Language, Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, (accessed 22 September 2020)

NZSL resources

There are a range of useful New Zealand Sign Language resources on the Deaf Aotearoa website, including Let's talk booklets with 25 signs to learn at work, with your family, Māori concepts, for medical situations, and for the weekend.

Library NZSL resources

Featured

The New Zealand Sign Language Collection

A sign language reference collection including accounts of the deaf experience.

LOTE4Kids

Storytime in your language! Kids can enjoy a digital collection of books in Languages Other Than English, including NZSL and te reo Māori.

Discover Canterbury: Sign Language Week

Learn about New Zealand Sign Language Week, on from 6 to 12 May 2024.

Videos from Deaf Aotearoa

Other resources

Ministry of Education New Zealand in collaboration with Deaf Aotearoa, have produced a number of children's Ready to Read eBooks that use NZSL. They can be purchased from iTunes (for Apple devices) or GooglePlay (for Android devices).

The Ministry of Education also has Thumbs Up! An Introduction to New Zealand Sign Language, a resource supports the teaching and learning of NZSL as an additional language in English-medium schools.

The New Zealand Federation for Deaf Children is a useful website for parents.

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