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Kōrero: New Zealand Sign Language

NZSL signs for Māori-specific concepts

Te Reo Māori

Te Reo Māori

Marae

Marae

Wānanga

Wānanga

Hāngī

Hāngī

Kaumātua

Kaumātua

Signs for Māori concepts are being added to New Zealand Sign Language as Māori deaf people gain more opportunities to participate and acquire cultural knowledge in te ao Māori, which has been historically difficult for them to access. However an interpreter who is fluent in both te reo Māori and NZSL can translate between the two languages, transferring and expressing concepts in a way that is meaningful within the vocabulary and structure of each language.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Victoria University of Wellington

Images: Online Dictionary of New Zealand Sign Language

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Rachel McKee, New Zealand Sign Language – Ghost page, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/diagram/47338/nzsl-signs-for-maori-specific-concepts (accessed 5 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Rachel McKee, i tāngia i te 27 August 2020, updated 1 September 2020.

Comments

Sarah Joanne Hona
13 November 2023
i want to learn maori te reo and with sign laugauge.
Tania Ali
08 December 2022
Kiaora from Tania, I do maori te reo with sign language korero in maori school today on 8 Dec 2022. Ka pai. Nga mihi, Tania ali