Important Government proposals and bills for discussion

Kia ora Deaf community.

At the moment Government is working on two important topics related to Deaf people:

1. Policy proposals to amend and modernise the NZSL Act 
2. The Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill.

Deaf Aotearoa encourages you all to let us know what you think about both. 

Deaf Aotearoa will share our position on both before the end of this month.

For the proposals to amend the NZSL Act, we encourage you to attend one of MSD’s planned face-to-face meetings, hui and zoom to ask questions and share your views.

Feedback for the Accessibility Bill closes on 7 November and Deaf Aotearoa will make a formal submission to the Select Committee.

Feedback for NZSL Act closes on 11 November and Deaf Aotearoa will provide our feedback to MSD by then.

Please make time to tell us what you think. 

It would be very helpful if you provide feedback on each item as separate matters. While they are trying to make things better for Deaf people, they are different pieces of legislation achieving other things. 

Please email your feedback to president@deaf.org.nz

Below is link to NZSL translation for both topics.

• NZSL Act: https://www.odi.govt.nz/nzsl/nzsl-act-consultation-2022/

• Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill:
  • https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/scl/social-services-and-community/news-archive/information-about-the-accessibility-for-new-zealanders-bill-in-alternative-formats/
  • https://msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/work-programmes/accessibility/making-aotearoa-accessible/index.html

Ngā mihi

Joanne
President of Deaf Aotearoa