Signing Off NZSL Week for 2024
NZSL Week display at Puaka-James Hight Library. Source: Elsie Williams.
Annually, Deaf Aotearoa illuminates New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) during a dedicated week. This event is a chance for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community to embrace their identities, and for the wider community to get behind them.
The overarching vision is to enhance awareness and appreciation for NZSL. But how is Aotearoa getting behind it, and more specifically, the University of Canterbury?
The journey for NZSL to receive recognition as an official language in 2006 was a result of tireless advocacy efforts from the Deaf community. At the time, the Minister for Disability Issues, Ruth Dyson, said the purpose of its official recognition was to acknowledge NZSL as a unique New Zealand language, and to give it equal status with spoken languages.
Deaf individuals and associations had been fighting for this recognition for more than 20 years. Now, they’re celebrating NZSL’s 18th year as an official language.
The first New Zealand Sign Language Week took place in 2007, and since then, each year has had an appropriate theme. 2008 was “the freedom to sign is our freedom of expression,” and this year’s theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere”.
The new Minister for Disability Issues, Louise Upston, was thrown in the deep end during NZSL Week, having only been in the role for ten days. Hosting the NZSL Awards was a role Upston had to quickly take on.
“I was incredibly nervous about doing sign language in front of people yesterday, but most of it was fine,” Upston laughed.
An Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere pushes the boat out to those who have the chance to learn sign, and Upston thinks it’s fantastic.
“Because it's our third official language, we do want to make sure that it is available and being used on a more regular basis, it doesn't have to be a special occasion.”
The new minister's social media presence is full of NZSL Week content. Behind the scenes, discussions in Parliament are abuzz, with sign language interpreters, pamphlets, and instructions now accessible in many offices.
The "best part" for Upston at the NZSL Awards was learning about Air New Zealand's groundbreaking use of sign language on a flight from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland to Pōneke Wellington, where staff communicated with Deaf passengers using travel-centric signs throughout the journey, from gate arrival to landing.
Upston described the prior ten days as “baptism by fire, but says that's often the best way to do it… it made me realise we are very fortunate to have a third official language. And so now it's about making sure that more people can sign, even a little bit, [which] I think would be a great start.”
More locally, the University of Canterbury shone faint lights on sign language celebration within different sectors. But as a whole, it did appear that NZSL Week slipped through the cracks of student life.
During Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, and various other language weeks, the University of Canterbury Students’ Association (UCSA) often helps to uplift the week by holding events and challenges on for the students and staff. Ordering your coffee in Te Reo scored students half-price coffees last year.
According to the UC website, 20-25% of UC students have some sort of visible or invisible accessibility challenge – therefore, advocacy for disabled people, including the Deaf and hard of hearing, is crucial for representation.
Louise Upston (right) and a sign language interpreter (left) introducing New Zealand Sign Language Week. Source: @upstonl / Instagram.
UC Libraries posted a video of staff introducing themselves in sign language on social media, and set up a display of NZSL resources at Puaka-James Hight – supported by UC Kaitoko first-year student advisors.
The video’s caption read, “[we] have spent the past morning learning how to introduce ourselves in NZ sign language – and we want to challenge you to do the same! It’s a small act, but it can make a big difference! If you’re wanting to learn you can do so with either the resources from our libraries or from @deafaotearoa.”
Deaf Aotearoa expressed their happiness about this video by reposting their content, signifying that the little gestures are still so valued.
Te Ratonga Whaikaha | Student Accessibility Service (TRW | SAS) offers introductory, skill-based NZSL courses to all UC students and staff. But it seems to look like they missed a perfect opportunity to advertise these popular classes during the week where the Deaf community has a moment to shine.
A UC spokesperson for TRW | SAS expressed their efforts through the Student Wellbeing team, who made a wholesome video with the help of Sign Equity NZ.
“UC is a diverse and inclusive community where people are supported to grow as individuals and be part of a wider community,” said the spokesperson.
As NZSL Week quietly wraps up, advocacy and celebration linger in the air. From the grand gestures to the subtle nods, Aotearoa's third official language found its way into conversations and hearts – more than it did last week.
While some may have missed the memo, others, like the University of Canterbury, made sure to put sign language in the spotlight, even if just for a moment. As Aotearoa bids farewell to this special week, its spirit is a little bit stronger, carrying the promise of continued growth and understanding for the Deaf community.