Wagner Nicky: New Zealand Sign Language Bill — Second Reading 
Wagner Nicky: New Zealand Sign Language Bill — Second Reading 
[Volume:629;Page:1470] 
NICKY WAGNER (National) 
: 
 As we have heard from several other speakers today sign language in New Zealand has had a chequered career. Although British Sign Language was introduced by deaf immigrants and sign language tutors were working in New Zealand as early as 1880 the first schools for the deaf banned sign language and signing was forbidden. An Act of Parliament allowed only oral education for the deaf and kids were punished for signing. It is a very similar story to that of Maori. But kids being kids and desperate to communicate they continued to sign among themselves in their dormitories. Those school signs combined with English Sign Language have become the basis of New Zealand Sign Language. 
New Zealand Sign Language is unique to our country. It encompasses cultural ideas and traditions both European and Maori that are our very own and it is something we should be very proud of. Its present form is relatively new and it is enshrined in the  
Dictionary of New Zealand Sign Language 
 which was published in 1997. 
The New Zealand Sign Language Bill means that 125 years after sign language first came to this country our own locally developed language will now be recognised as being an official language of New Zealand. That means that as an official language the use of New Zealand Sign Language will be maintained and promoted. The bill has been strongly supported by the Deaf community which has worked long and hard over the last 20 years to receive official recognition for New Zealand Sign Language. 
Most New Zealanders have no idea what being deaf means. The frustration of watching an interesting television programme with no sound can give us only the slightest inkling. The submissions reflected on the huge price that deaf people pay because of difficulties with communication. They understand only too well that the lack of effective communication brings social isolation and with that often frustration loneliness and despair. Research tells us that children who are deaf and who do not sign take far longer than hearing children to develop mentally and socially. Their language skills and their personal motivation suffer. 
Poor communication often leads to low self-esteem low achievement and low levels of social interaction. As children who have poor communication skills become adults their employment opportunities are limited and access to the public information and services that hearing people take for granted can be irritatingly difficult. Work and the rewards that we receive from having a job are a very important part of life. It is much harder for deaf people to get work and to keep it and they have a significantly higher unemployment rate than the norm. It is not surprising that deaf people suffer disproportionately from depression and far too many commit suicide or end up in jail. 
The bill also provides the right to use New Zealand Sign Language in legal proceedings where signing is a person’s first or preferred language. By using sign language and with skilled interpreters there will be more effective communication for the Deaf in our courts and tribunals and we hope that that will help to reduce frustration levels and miscommunication with officialdom. It is also hoped that it may underpin better judgments. 
Many submitters saw this bill as a small first step towards a whole raft of measures where the use of sign language and the provision of interpreters could enhance quality of life for the Deaf. They want more interpreters in education in health and in all parts of daily life. Many submitters explained in graphic detail the huge reliance they have on interpreters to get them through their days and the problems of obtaining them when they were needed. Some of the stories were truly heartbreaking. As we know submitters supported the bill unanimously as did all the parties that spoke in the House on the first reading. 
Everyone will celebrate when this bill is passed into law but I have some real concerns about its implementation. It is an enormously important bill for the Deaf community. The Deaf community has worked long and hard for it and it is keenly supported by the House. Therefore it is imperative that it does not disappoint. I am concerned that although the bill states things the public wants to hear it may not deliver—for two reasons. Firstly despite concerns expressed during the first reading there has been very little discussion about the costs created by the bill or the earmarking of money to pay for its provisions. I could find no budget advice no fiscal impact report and no Treasury report. As we all know unless funding for new services is allocated then regardless of rhetoric nothing tends to happen. Already in the House this week we have seen important roading projects that time and time again have been promised to the public being postponed or pushed out into the never-never because of a lack of money. 
Secondly competent interpreters are the key to the effectiveness of this bill and although some interpreter training is under way there is a real fear that there may not be enough trained interpreters to meet the demand. We defeat the whole purpose of the bill unless experienced and competent interpreters are available. Ensuring the highest standard of competency is enormously important and there is provision in this bill for regulating the quality of work if necessary. But a lack of skilled interpreters will leave the Deaf community back where it started. 
This is a good bill but the Government needs to deliver the money and with it the skilled personnel to make sure that it really means something for the Deaf community. I would hate to see all its hard work the work of this House and our select committees and the very good intentions of this bill undermined because the Government has not fully considered the fiscal or personnel ramifications or has not allocated money. National takes great pleasure in supporting the second reading of the New Zealand Sign Language Bill.