Chief Executive’s Report
This past year has been exceptional in how our partnerships, visibility, and widespread support have aligned to strengthen Deaf Aotearoa’s impact.
First and foremost, we are grateful to the Ministry of Education for ensuring First Signs will continue to be funded. The First Signs service is vital in ensuring early access to NZSL for Deaf children and their whānau remains a foundation for lifelong learning, identity, and inclusion.
We deeply appreciate the ongoing support from the Chief Ombudsman in their ongoing investigation into the Ministry of Education’s failings around access to education in NZSL. Continued scrutiny is critical if we are to see meaningful and sustained change in the educational outcomes of Deaf children.
We strengthened relationships across government, including advising the Ministry of Social Development on changes to Disability Support Services, Ministry for Disabled People – Whaikaha on the new Disability Strategy, NZSL Board on the new NZSL Strategy, Ministry of Health, Te Whatu Ora, Corrections, Justice and other agencies that are seeking to be more accessible and responsive to the Deaf community.
We thank Office of the Clerk and the Prime Minister’s Office for their continued commitment to providing interpreters for media briefings and post-Cabinet announcements. This has strongly reinforced the government’s dedication to NZSL access.
Our work alongside Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori continues to go from strength to strength. Over the past year we have collaborated on resources and events to promote NZSL and Te Reo Māori to the public, including support for the capacity development of kaimahi at Te Taura Whiri.
In the corporate space, we have continued to make inroads with our partnerships, including with Air New Zealand, Starbucks, and Garage Project, and we are actively exploring further corporate alliances. Their engagement and support helps bring NZSL into everyday spaces.
This year also marked Deaf Aotearoa’s first involvement in Round the Bays. Working with Stuff Events, we ensured interpreters were stationed at the start and finish lines for the Auckland event. It was a powerful way to raise awareness of Deaf access needs in public events. Our thanks to ePay/Prezzy Card, pure delish, Rainbow Confectionery, and Griffin’s for their direct support. We look forward to making all three Round the Bays events in 2026 fully accessible and welcoming more fundraisers to join in support of Deaf Aotearoa.
Another significant milestone on 23rd September 2025 involved the inaugural raising of the Deaf Flag at Parliament to mark International Day of Sign Languages as part of our work during International Week of Deaf People. This historic moment affirmed the Deaf community’s visibility and presence in Aotearoa.
Looking ahead, we are preparing for the 20th anniversary of NZSL’s becoming an official language. The week of 4th to 10th May 2026 is New Zealand Sign Language Week, which is already set to host a powerful celebration of language, culture, and inclusion, culminating with the NZSL Awards at Te Papa on Saturday 9th May.
As we look toward 2026, I feel confident Deaf Aotearoa is well placed to continue this journey together. Our combined work makes Deaf Aotearoa what it is today: an organisation that is striving for greater access, connection and equality for all Deaf New Zealanders.
Lachlan Keating
Chief Executive
