....and there’s $ignage that too often is missing from govt press statements
Language is the focus of two of the three fresh press statements posted on the Government’s official website since Point of Order reported yesterday on our monitoring of Beehive activities.
One statement deals with the revival of the language of the people of Rotuma, the other deals with New Zealand Sign Language Week.
The other statement is to announce a new housing initiative which taps into the Affordable Housing Fund.
Developers who have eligible, build-ready developments that are yet to start construction, in regional areas of need for new housing, are being invited to queue up to bite into funding of $159 million, open from 29 May, with applications open until 16 June.
This is the only one of the three statements which gives us an idea of the cost.
At Point of Order, we acknowledge our staff have had no instruction in sign language, but we are confident we and many of our readers can accurately interpret some signage – such as the sentiments being communicated in the picture below.
This is the only one of the three statements which gives us an idea of the cost.
At Point of Order, we acknowledge our staff have had no instruction in sign language, but we are confident we and many of our readers can accurately interpret some signage – such as the sentiments being communicated in the picture below.
The speaker is North Korean, but we get the message.
It’s much the same sentiment (we imagine) as the one Meka Whaitiri was communicating to her former Labour Party colleagues last week, when she surprised them by resigning from the Labour Party to join the Maori Party.
We can only conjecture on whether anyone was tempted to use sign language of this sort after Mr Speaker explained the parliamentary alchemy whereby Meka Whaitiri has become a Labour MP (because her resignation has not been communicated to him in the fashion he requires to be satisfied she has resigned), a Maori Party member (because she says she has joined that party), and an Independent MP (because that’s what he decreed).
The temptation to employ North Korean signage would have been heightened by his disinclination to publish the relevant correspondence.
Back in the Beehive, where the Hipkins ministerial team has been depleted by one, these announcements were disseminated –
Latest from the Beehive
A fund to stop targeted housing projects from falling over, will soon be open for a second round of applications, after supporting eight developments around the country to go ahead.
The Government has committed to strengthening the NZ Sign Language Act to support Deaf leadership and promote greater use of NZSL, Minister for Disability Issues Priyanca Radhakrishnan has announced.
The spotlight is on the language of the people of Rotuma as the first of the Pacific Language Weeks to be celebrated in 2023 gets underway.
Priyanca Radhakrishnan reminds us that this week (through to 14 May) is New Zealand Sign Language Week (NZSL), a nationwide celebration of NZSL as an official language of New Zealand.
While NZSL is now more recognised and accepted by society, a decreasing percentage of the deaf population are learning and using the language, Radhakrishnan said.
This may be positive news for reasons that have not been explained in the press statement.
But no. The Minister insists:
This means we need to keep working hard on protection and promotion, with a strong partnership between the Deaf community and the Government.
One of the ways we will do this is by amending the NZSL Act. These changes include strengthening the role of the NZSL Board and recognising the identity and culture of Turi Māori (Māori Deaf) in their work alongside government agencies.
A core function of the board under the proposed changes will be to monitor and report on government agencies’ actions to promote and protect NZ Sign Language.
In her statement, Barbara Edmonds says the Rotuman language, Fäeag Rotuạm, is classified as endangered by UNESCO, and the Rotuman community is rallying during this year’s Gasav Ne Fäeag Rotuạm Ta – Rotuman Language Week.
“This is a time for all Rotuman people in Aotearoa to celebrate the language, culture and identity of the islands,” said Barbara Edmonds.
“It is also an opportunity for friends, colleagues and wider families to gain new insights in the language and heritage of the people of Rotuma who have made a new home here.
“It is a challenge to learn a new language, but Aotearoa’s Pacific communities are motivated and inspired to help keep cultures alive and be proud of our shared heritage.”
Edmonds said it is estimated there are approximately 2,000 speakers on Rotuma, around 10,000 in Fiji, and around 1,000 speakers in New Zealand.
The Leo Moana o Aotearoa Pacific Languages report published by the Ministry for Pacific Peoples shows the significant role Pacific languages play in the daily lives of our communities.
For example, 90 percent of Pacific people use Pacific languages at community meetings, 82 percent use them with community members, and Pacific language use in recreation, sport and interest group activities is also an emerging strong point.
Priyanca Radhakrishnan’s statement gave no figures to show how many people use New Zealand Sign Language.
Neither statement gave signs or any other hint at how much their initiations are costing.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
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