Dean Jacqui: New Zealand Sign Language Bill — Third Reading 
Dean Jacqui: New Zealand Sign Language Bill — Third Reading 
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JACQUI DEAN (National—Otago) 
: 
 I have been enjoying the sight of the people in the gallery this afternoon and it has struck me that there is an awful lot of talking going on up there the like of which we would never get away with down here. I also notice one of the marvellous things about signing which is that it carries an awful lot further than the spoken voice. So not only are our guests chatting amongst themselves but they are chatting across the Chamber as well. 
I am very pleased to speak in favour of and support this third reading of the New Zealand Sign Language Bill as it passes into law. I also say as a newly elected member to this House that it is so nice to have the opportunity to speak on legislation that means so much to so many people—not only those people who will use New Zealand Sign Language but also the members of the Government who have brought this legislation to the House. 
The purpose of this bill is to promote and maintain the use of New Zealand Sign Language which according to the 2001 census is used by approximately 28000 people. The Waitaki District in the South Island which is where I come from contains around 28000 people so to me that is an awful lot of people who use New Zealand Sign Language. 
From my background as an actor of some 25 years communication has always been a very important part of my work and of my life. As I have sat here in the House and listened to the debate on the New Zealand Sign Language Bill it has caused me to reflect on what communication is and how important communication is in our lives. 
Going back to Acting 101 we learnt that communication comprises 14 percent intonation which is one’s verbal expression the subtle nuances of tone that one might use and inflection. All of that is limited or lost to people who are deaf. Six percent of communication comprises the words themselves—the text. Most people can read text but I would suggest that is not communication. 
Eighty percent of what comprises communication is body language. It is our facial expression and our hand gestures. It is our body language—our posture. Whether we mirror the person we are communicating with or whether we cross our arms and dissociate ourselves from what we are saying we are using our bodies to communicate. What our bodies do is what we say and that is communication. Body language brings much to the process of communication but add to that a recognised system of signing in the absence of words and expression and one has so much more. That is why I support the New Zealand Sign Language Bill. 
Some 20 years ago I worked with a young deaf person with no sign language. That person who was a so-called failure through the school system was withdrawn anti and angry. It was very difficult for me to communicate with that person and it is true to say that for most of the time that young deaf person was forever playing catch-up—always just a wee bit behind the play and behind others in the team. Members may imagine what happened when that young person committed a stupid minor crime. If one knows anything about court day one knows that it is a bit like a factory and for a young person it is a very scary place. I support the right of every New Zealander in those circumstances to have access to all the assistance that he or she can get. In this instance the provision of a sign language interpreter would have been of huge benefit. 
I support the New Zealand Sign Language Bill because a deaf person appearing before a judge will have a signer by right. I support the New Zealand Sign Language Bill because it removes the language barrier for deaf people. Through this legislation we acknowledge value and make normal the Deaf community’s presence in our community. I stand to support the New Zealand Sign Language Bill.