NZSL Strategy 2018-2023

This Strategy guides the work required by the NZSL Board from 2018 to 2023 to maintain and promote the use of NZSL by Deaf people and other NZSL users. This Strategy is also intended to guide the NZSL work of government agencies and Crown entities. You can view the NZSL Translation of the 2018-2023 Strategy through the button below.

Image: The blue cover of the NZSL Strategy 2018-2023 and a woman signing 'NZSL'

To view the HTML versions of the pages click on the links below. Other versions of the strategy including PDF and NZSL appear below.

Minister's Foreword

Executive Summary

Current state of NZSL and the need for planning

About the NZSL Board's Strategy 2018-2023

NZSL language planning priorities

The five internationally recognised planning priorities, that the Board has based this Strategy on, are:

1. Acquisition: The learning of a language by children and adults.

2. Use/Access: The ability to use a language in any or all domains of society, including within whānau.

3. Attitude: The beliefs and opinions of language users and others towards that language.

4. Documentation: The systematic recording of language use for research and reference.

5. Status: How a language is regarded by its users and others.

Acquisition and use/access are the two key language priorities within the Strategy due to the importance of Deaf and other NZSL users being able to fully learn and use NZSL in all domains of society. The remaining three language priorities: attitude, documentation and status play essential supporting roles to the achievement of NZSL acquisition and use/access.

Implementation. monitoring, reporting and partnerships

Developing NZSL indicators and targets to monitor and report on the Strategy

References

Glossary

Minister Carmel Sepuloni's statement about the Strategy - 23 September 2018

Victoria Manning, NZSL Board Chair, comments about the new NZSL Strategy 2018 - 2023