New Zealand Sign Language Board

New Zealand Sign Language Board Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from New Zealand Sign Language Board, Public & Government Service, 56 The Terrace, Wellington.

30/07/2026

Three new people have been appointed to the New Zealand Sign Language Board. They are Rāhera Turner, Thora Huebner and Joanne Witko.

Te Rōpū Kaitiaki also has new member Tanesha Sleeman.

More information on the link in comments.

Video description: A man wearing a black shirt is standing against a white wall. He is using an NZSL to explain who has been appointed.

27/07/2026

REMINDER: Applications for this year’s NZSL Community Grants close in one week on Sunday 2 August.

The grants are for projects that promote and maintain NZSL.

When you apply tell us how your project supports one or more of the five priority areas in the NZSL Strategy 2026 -2036.

More information about who can apply and how to apply is on the NZSL Board website. See link in comments below.

If you have any question, please email [email protected]

Video description: A woman is using NZSL to give information about NZSL community grants. She is wearing her hair in a bun on the top of her head and a warm white top.

13/07/2026

You can now apply for NZSL Community Grants. See link in comments.

Video transcript
Kia ora koutou. I’m Rosita, a member of the NZSL Board. I want to share that the 2026-27 NZSL Community Grants are open.

Applications open on 13 July 2026 and close on 2 August 2026.

Anyone in the community can apply for funding for their project ideas. The purpose of the grants is to promote and maintain NZSL.
Before you apply, we encourage you to think about how your project aligns with one of the five priorities in the current NZSL Strategy.

When planning your project, please think about whether it could be completed within the expected grant period, from 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2027.

In the past, we have used Survey Monkey Apply for applications, but this year, we will use a new platform, Accessible Surveys.

When applications open, you will be able to find the link to the application form on the NZSL Board website. More information will also be available there. If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].

Video description: A woman is using NZSL to give information about NZSL community grants. She is wearing her hair in a bun on the top of her head and a gold coloured top.

08/07/2026

This Matariki, learn how to sign "Matariki" and "mānawatia a Matariki" (celebrate Matariki) in NZSL.

Check out the video and give it a go.

Mānawatia a Matariki 🌟

16/06/2026

The New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Board has decided to continue developing New Zealand based interpreter standards.

The board will not progress with a 3-year trial of parts of the NAATI registration system.

NAATI is a well established and credible platform. The Board thanks NAATI for their constructive and generous engagement throughout this process of assessment.

The Board’s view is that NZSL, the Deaf community, and the interpreting workforce in Aotearoa New Zealand need an approach designed locally.

This will allow standards, capability levels, professional development, and complaint pathways to be built together. It will also help to ensure the system is culturally appropriate, accessible for Deaf people, and built for how interpreting works in this country.

The Board wants to avoid the cost, complexity, and potentially low uptake associated with adapting an international model.

The Board wants to build a sustainable, trusted framework by strengthening confidence in interpreter services in New Zealand.

To read more, visit the link in our comments ⬇️

15/06/2026

Why should Turi Māori lead conversations about NZSL and AI? 💭

10/06/2026

We asked young Deaf people why it is important for them to lead conversations about AI and NZSL 💭

09/06/2026

AI is moving fast and it’s raising important questions for NZSL.

Last week Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People hosted members of the Deaf community to talk about the opportunities and the risks.

Congratulations to all NZSL Award winners! It was a beautiful awards night hosted by Deaf Aotearoa at Te Papa with lots ...
11/05/2026

Congratulations to all NZSL Award winners!

It was a beautiful awards night hosted by Deaf Aotearoa at Te Papa with lots of celebration, connection and laughter.

The awards marked 20 years of NZSL as an official language. The theme was ‘A legacy in our hands’ to recognise people who worked to have NZSL recognised as an official language.

It was great to have Dr Joe Murray, President of the World Federation of the Deaf Ry, to present the ultimate NZSL Champion award to Jon Tai-Rakena for his outstanding commitment to protecting, promoting and preserving NZSL.

There were many more awards for Māori, youth and local champions open to Deaf or NZSL users. NZSL awards were also presented across a range of areas for accessibility, employment, interpreter of the year, teacher of the year, education, arts and culture, sports and recreation and government agencies.

The NZSL Board and Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People were proud to sponsor the awards alongside many others including Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, NZ Civil Defence, Ministry of Education NZ and Ministry of Social Development NZ.



Image descriptions

Image 1: The main auditorium of Te Papa filled with around 300 people seated at 30 tables for the awards. In the background a large circular window looks out over the Wellington harbour and the city. There are light displays showing fern patterns on the walls.

Image 2: Group photo of NZSL Board members and Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People employees dressed formally and smiling for the camera.
Back row: Ryan Cassidy, Rebecca Elvy, Catherine Greenwood, Joanne Beckers, Darrel Firth, Harriet Palmer and Aaron Khor.
Front row: Ryan Simchowitz, Paula Tesoriero (holding NZSL Action Plan) and Kellye Bensley.

Happy 20 years of NZSL! NZSL Week is a time to celebrate NZSL, Deaf culture, and the Deaf community, and to encourage ev...
08/05/2026

Happy 20 years of NZSL!

NZSL Week is a time to celebrate NZSL, Deaf culture, and the Deaf community, and to encourage everyone to learn and use NZSL in everyday life. It’s been great to see NZSL being used and shared across different spaces this week.

We have a new NZSL Strategy 2026-2036. The vision for that strategy is 'New Zealand Sign Language - everyone, everywhere, every day'.

See link in comments.

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56 The Terrace
Wellington
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