Latest news with #NewZealandSignLanguage
1News
12-08-2025
- General
- 1News
Frustrated parents, struggling kids: Why does NZ keep failing Deaf children?
Our Deaf students lag behind their hearing peers – teachers and parents say the fix for the problem is obvious, so why do we continue to fail these kids? Gill Higgins investigates. "We're setting them up for failure" – Watch this story on TVNZ+ Amanda Everitt is a deeply impressive woman. She has a law degree, a master's in education, she's worked in France and the UK where she set up networks for young Deaf people, and she's worked as a TV reporter. Amanda Everitt at the California School for the Deaf. (Source: 1News) As a profoundly Deaf person, Everitt attributes her success to growing up with something most Deaf people don't have: a Deaf mother. A mother who understood her need for visual communication and who made NZSL her first language. ADVERTISEMENT Amanda Everitt and her daughter Alexia, who's also deaf, in Auckland. (Source: 1News) Everitt's daughter Alexa is also deaf and, like her mum, has been raised from the beginning with NZSL. Everitt believes every Deaf child deserves that chance. But it's far from the case. Why are we failing our Deaf kids? Watch an indepth investigation on TVNZ+ (Source: TVNZ) 'We're not troublemakers' From the moment I stepped into the world of New Zealand's Deaf community, I was struck by their powerful sense of identity. Here was a group of people who were proud, warm and determined. And they were something else too. Intensely frustrated. They feel ignored. Their opinions dismissed. Their calls for change unanswered. Their cry is for New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) and Deaf culture to be prioritised in Deaf education. They say they're not. This is despite NZSL being one of our official languages, despite the establishment of a new national school, Ko Taku Reo, with campuses in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington, to improve Deaf education, and despite the many promises in the school's strategic plan. ADVERTISEMENT At the Deaf Society Bingo night, Chrischurch. (Source: 1News) Since last November, reporter Thomas Mead and I have spoken to dozens of parents, teachers, students and leaders in the Deaf community. Some were close to tears as they expressed their anger at how Deaf children are being held back. Many of the parents say they've been labelled as troublemakers. But as one mum put it 'we're not troublemakers. We're advocating. We're crying out for someone to realise, 'hey, our kids need this''. At the Deaf Society, Bingo night, Chrischurch. (Source: 1News) What the community wants isn't complicated: teachers fluent in NZSL, Deaf role models, recognition of Deaf culture, and the right to lead their own future. What's missing is action. 'Why are we employing teachers who can't sign?' ADVERTISEMENT When I first met Amanda Everitt I was blown away by her achievements. And then I paused. It's awkward to admit, but in a way my admiration exposed my preconceptions of Deaf people's capabilities. Everitt understands this. As she told me, 'I have visited many Deaf schools in the US. I have met multiple Deaf professionals overseas who have graduated as mathematicians, scientists, lawyers, doctors. And I ask myself, what's wrong in New Zealand? Why are we not producing that level of graduate?'. Alexa has the advantage of signing from the beginning with her Deaf mum Amanda Everitt. For years, Deaf students in Aotearoa have lagged behind their hearing peers. Action was taken in 2020, merging the Deaf schools in Christchurch and Auckland into a single institution, Ko Taku Reo. It oversees the education of 3800 Deaf or hard of hearing students in mainstream schools who get help with interpreters or tutors, along with the 120 students in dedicated Deaf units in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington. But most of the leadership isn't Deaf. At the Deaf Society Bingo night, Chrischurch. (Source: 1News) Ten of the 12 senior leaders are hearing. The Commissioner is hearing. Many in the deaf community worry that teachers are being hired for their mainstream school experience, over ones who have fluent NZSL. Deaf advocate and interpreter Evelyn Pateman compares this with a kura kaupapa, 'they would not employ teachers that were not fluent in te reo Māori. So why is Deaf education employing hearing teachers who can't sign?' ADVERTISEMENT Ko Taku Reo says there's a shortage of teachers with fluent NZSL, so it offers teacher the chance to learn NZSL once they're employed. Also, until recently, there's been a need to comply with Ministry of Education requirements that beginner teachers have two years of mainstream experience before teaching Deaf children. This is a huge barrier to Deaf graduates. 'In the real-world people don't employ what they don't know,' says Beca Harper, a Deaf graduate herself, who has struggled to find work as a teacher. Beca Harper and her son Oliver, who is also deaf. (Source: 1News) Without teachers fluent in NZSL, it's impossible to achieve full NZSL immersion for students and that leads to a concern that many Deaf children will suffer language deprivation. And it starts young. Around 95% of Deaf children are born to hearing parents, who often aren't aware of their child's need for visual communication. Parents say First Signs – a Ministry-funded service that helps families learn NZSL – does an amazing job, but it only provides 15 facilitators for the whole country. The waiting list is huge. Some families will only receive a home visit for an hour a month. Deaf Society Bingo night in Christchurch. (Source: 1News) ADVERTISEMENT Having learned to sign with her mother from the get-go Amanda Everitt knows the difference it can make. She applauds the signs of progress. Ko Taku Reo has a Deaf Futures group at the school. A Board of Trustees that will include parents and Deaf people has been reinstated. But in her opinion, these changes aren't enough. Our months-long investigation for TVNZ+ shows the reality: We met students who'd had to step up and interpret when the teacher's NZSL wasn't up to scratch. 'I was shocked that at Ko Taku Reo they would bring in teachers in the provision that didn't understand sign language, that couldn't communicate with us," says one. We met teachers who told us of a toxic culture but were afraid to speak on camera, saying they've seen what happens to those who do. 'We're losing wonderful people. People with skills and experience are being forced out," says a teacher, who chose to remain anonymous. And we spoke to graduates with teaching qualifications and fluent NZSL who've been refused jobs at Ko Taku Reo, despite being accepted with open arms when they enquired overseas. 'Australia were willing to take me on. They said fantastic, a teaching qualification and a NZSL qualification. It's confusing to me why here, a school with profoundly deaf children who use NZSL to communicate, wouldn't want a teacher who has fluent sign language." Ko Taku Reo and the Minister of Education Erica Stanford declined our many requests to be interviewed, but they did provide written responses. They say they're not aware of any students needing to interpret for teachers; that a culture of fear and targeting of staff has not been a feature of any of their reports or surveys; and that beginner teachers can now be hired directly to teach Deaf children – albeit only if mentoring is available, and only in Auckland or Christchurch. The school also reiterates it values NZSL highly. Deaf society Bingo night, Christchurch (Source: 1News) ADVERTISEMENT It is valuable. It's incredibly powerful watching a child sign confidently with their friends. It's more than language. It's connection. It's identity. It's pride. It's also a right. Some in the Deaf community would argue Ko Taku Reo's not doing enough to protect that right. Still, change could be around the corner. A new Executive Principal for the school is about to be announced. It took Gallaudet University, a private university in Washington DC, US, and the only Deaf university in the world, 145 years before it recruited a Deaf president, and that was only after a week of student protests. Here, the Deaf community would warmly welcome a Deaf principal who could fully understand their needs. Or at the very least, one with Deaf experience who has fluent NZSL. They're not holding their breath. If you'd like to share your experience as a Deaf person or with the Deaf community, please contact indepth@ "We're setting them up for failure" – Watch this story on TVNZ+
Scoop
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Survivors Call Out MSD For Redress Inaction, Travel Chaos, And Deep Harm – One Week Before National Wānanga (Part One)
Press Release – NZ Cast This isnt an isolated failure. NZCAST says its part of a larger pattern: a redress system that isnt working, and an agency that claims to care about survivors but wont even show up. With less than a week to go before a national wānanga for survivors of state abuse in Christchurch, the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) has still not confirmed consistent travel support for those trying to attend. Many have been left waiting, others have been declined outright, and some have received offers so low they feel like an insult. 'It's heartbreaking,' says Karl Tauri, spokesperson for NZCAST – the New Zealand Collective of Abused in State Care. 'We've had survivors calling us in tears, unsure if they'll be able to attend. Some have said they don't want to live anymore. And what's MSD's response? Silence, deferral, or ten dollars for a 5-hour round trip.' This isn't an isolated failure. NZCAST says it's part of a larger pattern: a redress system that isn't working, and an agency that claims to care about survivors but won't even show up. Travel support that harms more than it helps Survivors attending the upcoming Whare Tapu Wānanga in Christchurch (23–25 May) have reported: Receiving no confirmation of travel support Being told they're ineligible because their 'claim is closed' Being offered as little as $10–$20 for multi-hour journeys Hearing different rules depending on the person who answers the phone. 'This is redress?' Tauri asks. 'Survivors are retraumatised just trying to attend an event that could help them heal.' Deaf survivors excluded The situation is no better for Deaf survivors. MSD has refused to fund New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) interpreters for wānanga, redirecting organisers to Deaf Aotearoa who have no mandate or funding to cover redress-related events. 'This has left Deaf survivors completely shut out,' says Tauri. 'Or, again, the burden falls on us, a grassroots, unpaid organisation to try and find the money.' Disability support that doesn't support Survivors living with chronic pain, PTSD, or long-term illness are facing yet another barrier: the broken Disability Allowance system. NZCAST reports survivors being forced to repeatedly prove their trauma by obtaining letters from GPs and specialists, a system over-stretched on its own, even when their conditions are permanent and well documented. One mother cannot access basic allergy-safe food and unsubsidized medication for her and her children. They live with serious gluten and dairy allergies yet are denied support. 'She skips rent once a month just to feed her kids and buy her medication' says Tauri. 'What kind of system makes a woman choose between food and housing?' Case management by postcode In some parts of the country, Work and Income allows survivors to request dedicated case managers, a much needed and wanted advancement, so survivors don't have to relive their trauma with a new person every time. In some regions, this request is refused. 'It's postcode-based discrimination,' says Tauri. 'The system you get depends entirely on where you live. That's not justice.' No dignity in death In one recent case, MSD refused to fund the headstone for a survivor's father, who was buried in an unmarked grave. He was a veteran of World War Two, and the only adult who supported and loved his daughter, before he passed away. Despite clear grounds for compassion and support, she has been left scrambling to piece together funding on a benefit. 'This was a man who stood by his daughter through everything,' says Tauri. 'And MSD told the whānau no. No help, no honour, no acknowledgment. That tells you exactly how broken this system is, when even the dead, a veteran at that don't get dignity.' MSD: Present in some places, absent in others Perhaps the most galling failure, NZCAST says, is MSD's refusal to attend the Christchurch wānanga, despite attending similar events in Wellington and Palmerston North. 'Christchurch has hundreds of MSD staff and multiple offices,' Tauri says. 'They claim it's due to 'conflicting commitments,' but the message survivors hear is: you're not important enough for us to show up. ' This matters, he says, because when MSD WINZ and Historic Claims does attend, it works. Survivors are able to connect with case managers, claims, ask questions, get real-time support, and rebuild trust with the public service. NZCAST: Doing the work the Crown won't NZCAST is running the entire three-day Christchurch gathering including food, accommodation, transport, wellness sessions, peer support, and facilitation entirely unfunded. The trust receives no Crown funding, and relies on community aroha, fundraising, and lived experience. 'We're holding people who are in crisis while MSD sends emails telling us to refer survivors to the website,' says Tauri. 'We are doing their job. Unpaid. And still doing it better.' What NZCAST is calling for: A consistent national travel support policy for all survivors, open claim or not NZSL interpreter funding for all Crown-linked survivor events A trauma-informed Disability Allowance process that stops punishing people Equal access to case managers, no matter the postcode A survivor-led inter-agency wellbeing and redress taskforce Proper funding for survivor-led groups who are carrying the system's failures Implentation of the recommendations provided by the Royal Commission. 'We're not asking for favours. We're asking for justice.' At the heart of it, Tauri says, is a simple truth: redress is not money. Redress is showing up. It's access. It's care. 'MSD says it supports survivors, but survivors are not feeling supported. They're exhausted. They're retraumatized. And they're being left behind.'
Scoop
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Survivors Call Out MSD For Redress Inaction, Travel Chaos, And Deep Harm - One Week Before National Wānanga (Part One)
With less than a week to go before a national wānanga for survivors of state abuse in Christchurch, the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) has still not confirmed consistent travel support for those trying to attend. Many have been left waiting, others have been declined outright, and some have received offers so low they feel like an insult. 'It's heartbreaking,' says Karl Tauri, spokesperson for NZCAST – the New Zealand Collective of Abused in State Care. 'We've had survivors calling us in tears, unsure if they'll be able to attend. Some have said they don't want to live anymore. And what's MSD's response? Silence, deferral, or ten dollars for a 5-hour round trip.' This isn't an isolated failure. NZCAST says it's part of a larger pattern: a redress system that isn't working, and an agency that claims to care about survivors but won't even show up. Travel support that harms more than it helps Survivors attending the upcoming Whare Tapu Wānanga in Christchurch (23–25 May) have reported: Receiving no confirmation of travel support Being told they're ineligible because their 'claim is closed' Being offered as little as $10–$20 for multi-hour journeys Hearing different rules depending on the person who answers the phone. 'This is redress?' Tauri asks. 'Survivors are retraumatised just trying to attend an event that could help them heal.' Deaf survivors excluded The situation is no better for Deaf survivors. MSD has refused to fund New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) interpreters for wānanga, redirecting organisers to Deaf Aotearoa who have no mandate or funding to cover redress-related events. 'This has left Deaf survivors completely shut out,' says Tauri. 'Or, again, the burden falls on us, a grassroots, unpaid organisation to try and find the money.' Disability support that doesn't support Survivors living with chronic pain, PTSD, or long-term illness are facing yet another barrier: the broken Disability Allowance system. NZCAST reports survivors being forced to repeatedly prove their trauma by obtaining letters from GPs and specialists, a system over-stretched on its own, even when their conditions are permanent and well documented. One mother cannot access basic allergy-safe food and unsubsidized medication for her and her children. They live with serious gluten and dairy allergies yet are denied support. 'She skips rent once a month just to feed her kids and buy her medication' says Tauri. 'What kind of system makes a woman choose between food and housing?' Case management by postcode In some parts of the country, Work and Income allows survivors to request dedicated case managers, a much needed and wanted advancement, so survivors don't have to relive their trauma with a new person every time. In some regions, this request is refused. 'It's postcode-based discrimination,' says Tauri. 'The system you get depends entirely on where you live. That's not justice.' No dignity in death In one recent case, MSD refused to fund the headstone for a survivor's father, who was buried in an unmarked grave. He was a veteran of World War Two, and the only adult who supported and loved his daughter, before he passed away. Despite clear grounds for compassion and support, she has been left scrambling to piece together funding on a benefit. 'This was a man who stood by his daughter through everything,' says Tauri. 'And MSD told the whānau no. No help, no honour, no acknowledgment. That tells you exactly how broken this system is, when even the dead, a veteran at that don't get dignity.' MSD: Present in some places, absent in others Perhaps the most galling failure, NZCAST says, is MSD's refusal to attend the Christchurch wānanga, despite attending similar events in Wellington and Palmerston North. 'Christchurch has hundreds of MSD staff and multiple offices,' Tauri says. 'They claim it's due to 'conflicting commitments,' but the message survivors hear is: you're not important enough for us to show up. ' This matters, he says, because when MSD WINZ and Historic Claims does attend, it works. Survivors are able to connect with case managers, claims, ask questions, get real-time support, and rebuild trust with the public service. NZCAST: Doing the work the Crown won't NZCAST is running the entire three-day Christchurch gathering including food, accommodation, transport, wellness sessions, peer support, and facilitation entirely unfunded. The trust receives no Crown funding, and relies on community aroha, fundraising, and lived experience. 'We're holding people who are in crisis while MSD sends emails telling us to refer survivors to the website,' says Tauri. 'We are doing their job. Unpaid. And still doing it better.' What NZCAST is calling for: A consistent national travel support policy for all survivors, open claim or not NZSL interpreter funding for all Crown-linked survivor events A trauma-informed Disability Allowance process that stops punishing people Equal access to case managers, no matter the postcode A survivor-led inter-agency wellbeing and redress taskforce Proper funding for survivor-led groups who are carrying the system's failures Implentation of the recommendations provided by the Royal Commission. 'We're not asking for favours. We're asking for justice.' At the heart of it, Tauri says, is a simple truth: redress is not money. Redress is showing up. It's access. It's care. 'MSD says it supports survivors, but survivors are not feeling supported. They're exhausted. They're retraumatized. And they're being left behind.'
West Australian
07-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Air New Zealand anniversary & sale
Air New Zealand is celebrating 85 years of flying to Australia with a sale. A spokesperson from the airline says there are fares from Perth to Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington from $575. The sale runs until May 9, or until sold out. The spokesperson says: 'Alongside the sale, we are reflecting on our rich history, iconic moments, and the milestones that have shaped both the airline and the aviation industry. 'From being the first commercial airline to carry a reigning British monarch in 1995, to introducing the Skycouch in 2011, and becoming the first commercial customer of the 787-9 Dreamliner in 2014, Air New Zealand's legacy blends technological innovation with exceptional service. 'More recently, the airline celebrated cultural inclusion, offering flights in Te Reo Maori and New Zealand Sign Language, while also unveiling new uniforms by Emilia Wickstead.' 10 ICONIC MOMENTS 1950 A pot of tea at 30,000 feet. On the Coral Route, Air New Zealand (then TEAL) becomes the first airline to successfully boil water mid-flight. 1984 ANZ pioneer long-haul flying between Auckland and Los Angeles on a Boeing 747. Before 1984, a flight to Los Angeles meant a stopover in either Nadi, Tahiti or Honolulu to refuel. 1995 Queen Elizabeth II makes history when she flies with ANZ on a scheduled commercial flight from London to Auckland via Los Angeles, the first routine commercial service used by a reigning British monarch. 2011 ANZ introduces the Skycouch. Economy seats with an adjustable leg rest that can be raised or lowered to create a lie-flat couch space. 2015 The innovative Airband is introduced. It is a digital wristband providing real-time updates to caregivers of unaccompanied minors at every stage of their journey in 2015. 2023 ANZ announces the ALIA as the airline's first purchase of a next-generation aircraft. ALIA is battery-powered and part of ANZ's Mission Next Gen Aircraft program. The purchase cements the airline's commitment to flying lower-emissions aircraft in New Zealand. 2023-2024 Cultural and language inclusions come with two landmark flights — the first ever conducted in Te Reo Maori (2023) and the first delivered in New Zealand Sign Language (2024). 2025 New uniforms by Emilia Wickstead. In a bold refresh of its visual identity, ANZ unveils its new uniforms, the garments paying homage to Aotearoa with Matariki constellation motifs, huia feathers, and purapura whetu patterns. It includes the introduction of the ie faitaga, a traditional formal lavalava, for Pasifika team members. 2025 World's first nose to tail retrofit of 787-9 Dreamliner. Air New Zealand chief executive officer Greg Foran says: 'While much has changed since our first flight back in 1940, what hasn't changed is the joy we get from bringing people together. 'As we look ahead to the future, we're still full of energy, ideas, and that Kiwi ingenuity that keeps us exploring.' fact file Air New Zealand's 85th Birthday Sale runs until 9.59pm WST on May 9, 2025, unless sold out prior. Seats are strictly limited and not available on all flights and dates. Travel periods apply.
NZ Herald
06-05-2025
- General
- NZ Herald
NZ Sign Language Week: Why I raise my hearing children with NZ Sign Language
Experiencing language for the first time Solouota's parents, from Niue, had no knowledge of sign language and took baby Rosie home and improvised what they called 'home signs' - hand gestures and signals they used to communicate with their toddler. When Rosie was old enough, they put her in a mainstream kindergarten and then primary school with her siblings, in Porirua. Rosie's three brothers invented unique signs for her too. 'They all have their own signs and different ways of communicating, so it was a real mixture,' Rosie told the Herald through an interpreter. 'Home signs ... pointing around and using body language and gestures with my three brothers, so we could understand each other.' As luck would have it, the local primary school - Rangikura School - opened a deaf unit. And when Rosie was 8 or 9 years old, a new teacher started who introduced her to NZ Sign Language - Rosie's first formal language. Even now, Rosie remembers the wonder of that time. 'Wow. It had such an amazing impact on me - to have access to the language of deaf people. '[The teacher] was very expressive with me and I was able to understand her,' she told the Herald through an interpreter. 'Sign language was developed by deaf people and it's the language of deaf people. I struggled ... and then I was able to access this normal language for me.' Today, Solouota is a single mum to three hearing children aged 4, 6 and 7, all of whom speak NZSL. 'It's their first language - New Zealand Sign Language - because that's my language and I'm their mum. It's their first language - New Zealand Sign Language - because that's my language and I'm their mum Rosie Solouota 'When they were babies, I signed with them. And as they've grown ... they were already starting to pick it up at six months old. 'Now, as they're getting older, they know how to sign, they know how to use body language and facial expressions as part of NZ Sign Language from me, their mum.' Now in her mid-30s, Solouta works as a NZSL tutor and advocate for the deaf community. This week is NZ Sign Language Week and she is this year's sign language hero. Almost 25,000 people in New Zealand use the language, one of New Zealand's official languages, and this year's theme is: An Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere. Loss of mother tongue Solouota feels a sense of loss that she couldn't learn Niuean growing up, given there were no Niuean sign interpreters. 'I'm a deaf person, so I can't access spoken language,' she said Her children, who are all hearing, all speak Niuean and te reo Māori, as well as English, in addition to their first language NZSL. She said NZSL had changed her life's trajectory and hoped more Kiwis will learn it. 'NZ Sign Language is essential for me. I use it every day in my life. It's part of who I am - it's how I access life and a part of who I am as a person.'
