https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YoNWym2Lus
NZ's official languages are not being utilised enough during Elections and within political party and campaign groups.
Not for profit organisations and volunteer groups are having to beg for volunteers or use their own limited funding to cover the cost of NZSL/Te Reo Interpreters at Meet the Candidates events around the country.
This is unreasonable to expect NZSL Interpreters to give up their time to volunteer when they need to pay rent, rates, mortgages etc too.
This puts Deaf and Hard of Hearing voters/candidates in a position of having limited means of communication to ask questions or give presentations at these events.
TVNZ refusing to make available NZSL Interpreters on our state broadcasters Television Election Debates is a prime example of electoral prejudice against voters who depend on an official language to fully participate in a democratic progress.
Deaf/Hard of Hearing members need NZSL interpreter and communication support funding that allows them to fully participate within their chosen political party/campaign group throughout the year.
We request the Speaker of the House to set aside funding to allow full political party/group participation in an accessible democracy society.
Lets make Elections barrier-free for our official languages by 2020.
