Deaf History

Happy NZSL (New Zealand Sign Language) Week 6-12th of May 2024

This year, the Deaf Aotearoa’s theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere.”

Our goal? To spread the joy of NZSL across every corner of Aotearoa. From the mountaintops to the ocean depths and everywhere in between, let’s make NZSL a language for everyone, everywhere, from the Deaf Aotearoa Office. 

The sentences above from their website needed to be clarified. The Deaf Aotearoa is encouraging everyone, anywhere in New Zealand, to learn our NZSL through homes and schools. Our mission is to make NZSL a language that resonates in every corner of Aotearoa. From the highest peaks to the deepest seas, NZSL is for everyone, everywhere, as we strive towards an inclusive Aotearoa from the Deaf Aotearoa Office.

I encourage you readers to look up YouTube. There is one beautiful song by Six60—Pepeha Waiata. This song is produced in three languages: two official languages in Te Reo Māori, NZSL, and English (state language in Education, etc.). 

This translation of Six60’s Pepeha has been developed by a collaborative team of Māori Deaf, Māori hearing, Pākeha Deaf and Pākeha hearing – with the support of Six60. One of the beautiful aspects of languages is that they are not static but dynamic. Te Reo Māori Concepts in NZSL (English) can be expressed differently.

This waiata tells a story of belonging, as does this translation in NZSL – you will see the story concepts expressed visually in NZSL. 

Try to learn these signs and enjoy the waiata – Pepeha. 

Ko Mana tōku maunga

Ko Aroha te moana

Ko Whānau tōku waka

Ko au e tū atu nei

Mana is my mountain

And Aroha is my sea

Whānau is my waka

And all of that is me

Ahakoa pāmamao

Kei konei koe

Though you are far away

I hold you near

I’ll keep the home fires burning

So you can see clear

Kia maumahara mai rā

Nō konei koe

Ko Mana tōku maunga

Ko Aroha te moana

Ko Whānau tōku waka

Ko au e tū atu nei

Mana is my mountain

Aroha is my sea

Whānau is my waka

And all of that is me

Ko Mana tōku maunga

And all of that is me

When you visit New Zealand, visit any marae (Meeting ground) for the conference, gathering, and meeting. The first thing anyone does is a mihi (mihimihi)—an introduction at the welcome/start addressing yourself as who you are, where you come from (ancestor’s place), and what mountain and river you belong to. I made my pepeha to show you.

Most Tāngata Turi (Māori Deaf community) are going through learning about their mihi/pepeha, and they will use their own Māori concept sign language of their iwi (tribe) and places where their ancestors come from. 

I have been involved with EGL (Enabling Good Lives) Leadership Waikato for over thirteen years. Recently, we have had a hauā (disabled) tūru wīra (wheelchair) tāne (male) teaching everyone in EGL Leadership about short mihi. I use the Māori concept sign language, and they can learn both in Māori speaking and Māori concept sign language together. 

Māori concept of sign language is easier to learn than speaking Te Reo, but it is essential to learn to talk to Te Reo correctly, depending on the region. For example, each region has different dialects, such as macrons (double vowels), ‘wh’ and ‘ng’. The importance of tohutō (macrons) in reo MāoriA macron is a line that appears over Māori vowels, such as a, e, i, o, u. Why is it really important? It means that you can lengthen the vowel sound. The other reason is you can change the meaning of the word entirely. Many D/deaf and D/deaf with disabilities are uncomfortable speaking Te Reo or spelling the names. Only a tiny number of Tāngata Turi (Māori Deaf) can master below-average Te Reo but not to speak. I know one person who is deaf himself, and he speaks Te Reo well. This person is learning to catch up in NZSL for a while because he has several D/deaf cousins and friends.  For example, see the picture of the NZSL-Māori sign language.

You can look up the link on the website – https://www.nzsl.nz/

Here is one video from YouTube which Richard Peri signed his Pepeha but it was signed two years ago. Because he signed in finger spelling of his ancestors, iwi, place and today I can not find one video that acutally signed of the ancestor, iwi, maunga, moana and other names. https://youtu.be/M7KPa7hL8NM?si=P_ZwE7DRouqHe4ex

I am grateful to have learned average Te Reo through my BA in Arts (Linguistic, History and Anthropology) at the University of Waikato in the past. I would be grateful if anyone can donation toward my projects to continue to share, to write the book and to use this website. Note I am not receiving any pay for this projects. Thank you.