This section describes the specific needs of Māori deaf people.

• If the spoken language of the setting is English, book a sign language interpreter. 
• If the spoken language of the setting is Māori, book a trilingual interpreter (English/Māori/New Zealand Sign Language). Note: you will need to do this at least four weeks in advance. 
• Check with the deaf person what their preferences are first, if possible.

Māori deaf people constitute a large proportion of the deaf community in New Zealand (and at a higher percentage than Māori in the general population).

New Zealand Sign Language is used by Māori and Pākehā deaf people alike. Within New Zealand Sign Language, there is an increasing vocabulary of signs for Māori-specific concepts.

If services specific to Māori are available, Māori deaf people may prefer to access these services through a sign language interpreter.

Where the spoken language in the situation is English, Māori deaf people can access services through a New Zealand Sign Language/English interpreter.
 
In situations where Māori is being spoken, an interpreter who is skilled in New Zealand Sign Language, Māori and English is needed. These people are known as trilingual interpreters. Currently, very few New Zealand Sign Language interpreters are qualified to interpret from and into Māori. These few interpreters are often in great demand and will need to be booked at least four weeks in advance.

As there are very few trilingual interpreters, and there may be none in your area. You may have to pay for the interpreter's travel costs and travel time in addition to their usual interpreting fee.

If no trilingual sign language interpreter is available and the service or event is mainly conducted in Māori, you could consider booking two interpreters who will work together (a spoken Māori-to-English interpreter and an English-to-New Zealand Sign Language interpreter).

This last scenario would be more appropriate if prepared speeches are being given. This would allow faster interpretation, as the interpreters would not need to wait on each other to know what a speaker was saying and then interpret that information.