07/05/2026
The theme for the 20th anniversary of NZSL as an official language in 2026 is “A Legacy in our Hands”.
This theme is also reflected in the 2026 NZSL Awards and celebrations, which highlight two decades of progress since the NZSL Act was passed in 2006. It honours those who fought for recognition of their language, while reminding us all of our shared responsibility to continue advocating for equity, accessibility, and visibility of NZSL.
Our own Dr Kathie Rifle will be attending the NZSL Awards Night 2026, being held tomorrow evening at Te Papa as part of NZSL Week. A Deaf-led, fully accessible celebration honouring individuals, allies, and organisations who are helping to build an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere.
Kathie engaged in her first NZSL course when I she was 18 years old. She thought it was a beautiful language and was really interested to learn. It was there, at the Hearing House in Palmerston North, that she was given her sign name (see image below).
In 2020, she began consulting for the then newly created school for the Deaf, Ko Taku Reo – Deaf Education New Zealand, and in 2021, she accepted a full-time role at the school as the Māori Strategic Lead. She worked very closely with the Deaf Strategic Lead and other Deaf staff, and so learning the language was both a necessity and a joy and a privilege. She still has a long way to go in her language journey, but she can now confidently communicate with her Deaf friends and colleagues, and has learned so much about Deaf culture and Māori Deaf culture. Her worldview and her cultural humility have expanded and deepened as a result.
Kathie can see the continued struggles for access in the community, in health, in education and in te ao Māori for the Deaf community, and she is very humbled to be an ally alongside them.
Kathie's challenge to everyone is to make the effort to learn some NZSL, whether it be a little or a lot; every effort is appreciated.
