What is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week about?
NZSL became an official language of Aotearoa New Zealand in 2006 when the NZSL Act passed into law. In 2007 we celebrated NZSL Week for the first time. The aim of NZSL Week is to raise awareness of NZSL and to encourage all New Zealanders to learn and use our language. The week is also an opportunity to learn about the New Zealand Deaf community and our Deaf culture. NZSL Week adds to the rich and diverse identity of Aotearoa New Zealand. NZSL Week 2023 is a week of fun, activities, stories and learning – a celebration of the Deaf community – from 8 to 14 May. The theme for NZSL Week 2023 is Together we can make NZSL thrive. Check out www.nzslweek.org.nz for resources, activities to get involved in, including learning seven signs! New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week at Unitec
On Monday 8 May, the Access4Success team will have an NZSL booth, with some resources set up in Te Puna (outside 180-1110) and at Waitākere by the student kitchen. Check out the NZSL booths, where you’ll find resources to increase your knowledge of NZSL and the signing community. Learn to fingerspell your name! Triton Hearing self-screen kiosks will also be set up on Monday and The test will indicate if your hearing levels are within an expected range or whether further testing is recommended. Your results can be sent to an email address, and you choose whether you want follow up for a free hearing test. It takes a couple of minutes to complete the test. Headphones are provided along with wipes to clean between users. In the below video, Unitec ākonga Saynab talks about her experience as a Deaf woman studying at Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka and pursuing her passion of photography
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More about NZSL and learning to sign
NZSL has its own grammatical structure and linguistic features, different from English. NZSL is not a version of English ‘on the hands’. NZ’s 2018 census showed that over 20,000 people use NZSL, with an estimated 4,500 Deaf users of NZSL. NZSL is part of a language family which includes British Sign Language (BSL), and Australian Sign Language (Auslan). These three languages are still different from each other! However, American Sign Language (ASL) is very different from BSL, Auslan and NZSL. You can read more facts about NZSL at the Online NZSL Dictionary website: www.nzsl.nz/nzsl/ and teara.govt.nz/en/new-zealand-signlanguage There are lots of ways you can learn NZSL:
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Tuesday, 8am to 3pm, outside Access4Success in Building 180.
As-salamu-alaikum Saynab,
It was amazing to see your mahi and pieces of your life. We are all very proud of you and your story makes me feel proud too, as a kaimahi of this space.
Thank you for sharing. Keep up your good work.
Tahera