A member of the Air New Zealand cabin crew used New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) to make passenger announcements on a flight from Auckland to Wellington. This was a first in the world and was done as part of NZSL Week. The crew encouraged passengers to try NZSL by using illustrated cards for common items like “water”, “cookie”, and “lolly”. All five crew members had at least a basic understanding of the language.
Jon Tai-Rakena, a NZSL Week ambassador and one of the passengers, said this was a significant step towards better inclusion for the Deaf community. He said traveling as a Deaf person can sometimes feel isolating, but this flight made Deaf people feel seen and welcomed. He hopes to see more NZSL use in the future.
Lachlan Keating, the chief executive of Deaf Aotearoa, who was also on the flight, said it was wonderful to see many Air New Zealand crew and passengers using NZSL. He said the more people use NZSL in their daily lives, the more inclusive society becomes for the Deaf community.
Sign language is an official language of New Zealand. Airline spokesperson Ed Collett said they have been working with Deaf Aotearoa to teach staff about 30 travel-related signs. Around 400 Air New Zealand staff have completed the training. Passengers can identify these staff by a special NZSL Supporter lapel pin they wear. New Zealand Sign Language Week continues until May 12.
