Our speaker this month was Michelle Sinclair, of Deaf Aotearoa Otago. Michelle told us her story and about her work in the Deaf Community. She works with the families of deaf children all over Otago and Southland, supporting them with communication skills. She taught us some signs, and how to introduce ourselves in New Zealand Sign Language, finger-spelling our names. Thanks Michelle for the booklets and resources we took away to practise our signing.
Did you know that there are two official languages in Aotearoa New Zealand – Māori and New Zealand Sign Language? These were established by the Māori Language Act 1987 and the New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006. Although English is currently the most widely spoken language in New Zealand, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language both formally have special status under the law as official languages of New Zealand. People have the right to speak Māori and New Zealand Sign Language in any legal proceedings.
Zonta Club of Metropolitan Dunedin 