New Zealand Sign Language Strategy

The New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Strategy 2026-2036 guides the work of the NZSL Board to maintain and promote the use of NZSL by Deaf people and other users.

The strategy is titled 'New Zealand Sign Language – everyone, everywhere, every day'. This reflects the NZSL Board’s ambitions for a strong and vibrant language that is recognised and embraced as a living language for all New Zealanders.

The strategy aims to support NZSL users to learn and use the language, and to ensure non-NZSL users understand its importance and embrace its use.

The strategy’s five priority areas include supporting deaf and NZSL-using children and their families to learn and use NZSL and ensuring there is a skilled workforce to sustain that support.

NZSL is an official language of New Zealand. As a first language to many Deaf New Zealanders, it enables Deaf people to achieve access to health, education, employment, and society.

Find the strategy, NZSL and other alternate formats on the NZSL Board website external URL .