Porirua City has made history as the first council to celebrate the International Day of Sign Languages and the International Week of Deaf People 2024. This event marks the first time the Deaf flag has been raised in New Zealand.
This morning, guests including representatives from Deaf Aotearoa, the World Federation of the Deaf, and the Wellington Deaf Society, who together represent the voices of the Deaf community in this region and across New Zealand came together for this special occasion. Special thanks to Victoria Manning, Pam and Kaz Witko, Oliver Ferguson, and Darryl Alexander for their contributions.
Recognising Deaf culture is crucial not only in Porirua but throughout Aotearoa. Since 2006, New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) has been an official language alongside English and Māori. We must continue to celebrate this milestone by proudly flying the flag for our Deaf community members. Sign language is a unique and valid means of expression and communication, with over 4,500 people using NZSL as their primary form of communication and more than 23,000 using it in total.
The International Week of Deaf People is not just about highlighting the Deaf community but also about improving human rights and ensuring Deaf culture is portrayed positively. The coming days offer a fantastic opportunity to increase awareness and acceptance of sign language, making it more visible to everyone in New Zealand. This week reminds us of the daily contributions Deaf people make to our society.
We applaud our successive governments for integrating sign language into post-Cabinet briefings and other public events. The more it is normalised, the more interest it generates.
We encourage everyone to give sign language a try this week – it’s all in your hands!
