2 May 2012

Te Reo fluent sign language speakers wanted by health trust

8:05 am on 2 May 2012

The Ngati Hine Health Trust in Whangarei wants to see more people who are qualified in New Zealand sign language as well as being speakers of Te Reo Maori and English.

Disabilities manager Janice Gardiner says the trust is trying to empower the lives of disabled Maori in Te Tai Tokerau by making marae more user-friendly for them.

She says a major barrier to Maori deaf people taking full part in marae activities is the lack of an interpreter.

Ms Gardiner says it is mindboggling that there are only a handful of people who can sign as well as speak Te Reo Maori and English.

She says having more people who are tri-lingual is key to giving whanau turi or those who are deaf a better life.