Reception for the 20th anniversary of the New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006

E ngā rau rangatira mā, e kui mā, e koro mā, e huihui mai nei i tēnei wā, tēnei aku mihi māhana ki a koutou. Nau mai, haere mai rā ki Te Whare o te Kawana Tinara o Te Whanganui-a-Tara.

I'd like to begin by specifically acknowledging: The Honourable Ruth Dyson - Former Minister of the Crown; Lachlan Keating - Chief Executive of Deaf Aotearoa; Craig Findsen - President, Deaf Aotearoa; Victoria Manning - World Federation for the Deaf Board Member; Shona McGhie - Deaf Community Patron, Deaf Aotearoa

And to all our very distinguished guests here this afternoon - tēnā koutou katoa.

It's an absolute privilege and pleasure to host this celebration marking 20 years since New Zealand Sign Language became an official language of Aotearoa New Zealand. Today, I join with you in acknowledging such an important milestone in the history of our Deaf Community.

As the actor Marlee Matlin observed, it is up to the hearing to remove the barriers for the Deaf. The passing of the New Zealand Sign Language Act in 2006 was one such moment - and followed decades of lobbying to get due recognition and support for a language that had nurtured and empowered generations of Deaf New Zealanders and their families.

The Act acknowledged your fundamental human right to use Sign Language in legal proceedings and government departments. It established a platform for effective participation in education and public life, and it also acknowledged NZSL as a taonga in its own right, worthy of public protection, support, and encouragement.

Anyone who is familiar with more than one language understands how integral language is to our sense of who we are, our identity, and how we see the world. As a wāhine Māori, I know so many concepts are not readily translated between te reo Māori and English.

It's equally true of concepts and idioms found in New Zealand Sign Language, which has evolved over time to reflect the lived experience of the Deaf community in Aotearoa. Its survival during many years of official disapproval is testament to its effectiveness as a primary form of communication, and the role it has played in developing a vibrant Deaf culture.

Legislation is a good starting point for change, but awareness and implementation are another story. The presence of interpreters at public events has certainly brought new visibility to NZSL, while also highlighting how Deaf people were previously excluded from so much public communication.

Today, I have an interpreter, but I appreciate that there are not enough people with this skillset to meet the demand for their services - and precious few with trilingual capability that would enable Turi-Deaf Māori people to fully participate in te ao Māori.

It must be so satisfying to see children confidently signing in classroom settings, and to know that they can look forward to opportunities to blossom and thrive. However, I am aware of the many challenges that remain around access to sign-language instruction, availability of interpreters, and barriers encountered in education, training, and employment.

Technological advances are already improving accessibility to information and communication between hearing and Deaf people. Tools such as signing avatars and other AI-driven innovations hold potential, but also raise important questions around ethics, accuracy, and language sovereignty. Whatever the future holds, NZSL will be part of that mix, and remain fundamental to Deaf culture.

Our people are our nation's greatest resource. New Zealanders share a duty of care to uphold the mana of all our citizens, so that everyone has an opportunity to connect, express themselves, and contribute their talents.

Today, I want to acknowledge the advocacy and services that are empowering Deaf New Zealanders to make those vital human connections and develop their potential. As Governor-General and Patron, my sincere thanks to Deaf Aotearoa, and the New Zealand Sign Language Board, for what you are doing to strengthen the use of New Zealand Sign Language in Aotearoa and empower members of the Deaf community.

My congratulations to you all again, as we celebrate this significant anniversary. You can be proud of what has been achieved, and your ongoing commitment augurs well for the years ahead.

Kia ora huihui tātou katoa.