The NZSL Strategy 2026–2036 signals a long-term ambition to strengthen NZSL visibility and access across public services and communities.  NZSTA welcomes the strategy’s focus on improving communication access and reducing barriers to safe participation in health, education, justice and other services.

Of particular note, the strategy recognises that NZSL is used not only by Deaf people, but also by some non-Deaf people, including some non-speaking people who may prefer signed language as part of their communication approach.  This aligns with speech-language therapy’s commitment to equitable communication access and the importance of multimodal communication supports.  NZSTA recognises NZSL as a taonga language for many Deaf New Zealanders and a vital part of Aotearoa’s linguistic diversity, and supports practice that protects and values people’s home, heritage, and community languages.

NZSTA also notes a critical priority: preventing language deprivation.  Language deprivation occurs when a child does not have timely, consistent access to a full language during early development.  Preventing this requires protecting and strengthening early access to NZSL for Deaf children and others who rely on NZSL for language acquisition and daily communication. Early access to a complete language is time-sensitive and underpins wellbeing, learning, identity, and participation.

As NZSL becomes more visible in mainstream settings, NZSTA supports a key safeguard: initiatives to increase general visibility and basic use of NZSL should not divert limited resources away from the people who rely on NZSL as a first or primary language — particularly Deaf children and their whānau.  A “visibility” agenda must sit alongside (and not replace) resourcing that enables full language access.

NZSTA will take a practical approach in response: we will share a brief member update highlighting the strategy’s key messages, the breadth of its application (including non-Deaf NZSL users), and reinforcing the importance of timely access to qualified NZSL interpreters in high-stakes contexts.  We will continue to promote respectful, rights-based practice in partnership with Deaf-led expertise.