What Is New Zealand Sign Language Called? NZSL Explained
If you’re asking what is New Zealand Sign Language called, the answer is NZSL — New Zealand Sign Language. This is both the official name and the universally used abbreviation for the sign language of New Zealand’s Deaf community. NZSL is one of New Zealand’s three official languages alongside English and Te Reo Māori, giving it a legal status that few sign languages worldwide have achieved.
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The Name: NZSL
New Zealand Sign Language — abbreviated NZSL — was formally named in the New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006, which recognised it as an official language of New Zealand. Within the Deaf community, people typically fingerspell N-Z-S-L or use the NZSL sign for “sign language” with New Zealand context understood. The full name “New Zealand Sign Language” appears more in formal, educational, and legal settings.
The abbreviation NZSL is universally understood in New Zealand and in international Deaf and linguistic communities. When you see “NZSL courses,” “NZSL interpreter,” or “NZSL dictionary,” these all refer to New Zealand Sign Language. Using the correct name and abbreviation shows awareness of the language and respect for the community.
In Te Reo Māori, NZSL doesn’t have a single standardised name, though “Te Reo Turi” (the Deaf language) is sometimes used informally. The NZSL Act uses the English name in legislation. The trilingual documentation of NZSL vocabulary (signs with English and Māori glosses) reflects New Zealand’s multilingual approach without requiring a separate Māori name for the sign language itself.
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Don’t confuse NZSL with ASL, BSL, or Auslan. While NZSL shares family connections with BSL and Auslan (all three belong to the BANZSL family), it’s a distinct language with its own vocabulary, cultural features, and community. ASL is completely unrelated. Using the correct name distinguishes NZSL from these other sign languages.
What NZSL Is
NZSL is a complete natural language — not a simplified communication system, not signed English, and not a collection of gestures. It has its own grammar, extensive vocabulary, regional variation, and linguistic complexity equal to any spoken language. Approximately 4,500 people use NZSL as their primary language, forming a small but vibrant Deaf community.
NZSL uses a two-handed manual alphabet shared with BSL and Auslan. This BANZSL family connection means some vocabulary overlap with its British and Australian relatives, though decades of separate development have created a distinctly New Zealand language with unique vocabulary and Māori cultural influence.
Māori cultural elements make NZSL unique worldwide. Signs for Māori concepts, bicultural protocols at Deaf events, and trilingual dictionary documentation reflect Aotearoa’s cultural landscape. This Māori dimension gives NZSL a cultural specificity that no other sign language shares.
The NZSL Act 2006 made NZSL one of three official languages of New Zealand. This legal status was among the earliest full recognitions of a sign language anywhere in the world. It provides NZSL users with rights to interpretation in legal proceedings and government services.
NZSL vs Other Sign Languages
NZSL is related to BSL and Auslan (BANZSL family) but distinct from them. Shared heritage means some mutual intelligibility, but separate development has created three distinct languages. An NZSL user would find BSL partly familiar but still need to learn its specific vocabulary and conventions.
NZSL is unrelated to ASL (American Sign Language). ASL descended from French Sign Language, uses a one-handed alphabet, and has completely different vocabulary and grammar. Despite both New Zealand and America being English-speaking countries, their sign languages evolved from different roots.
Over 300 sign languages exist worldwide, each tied to specific Deaf communities. Sign language is not universal. NZSL is New Zealand’s sign language, just as ASL is America’s and BSL is Britain’s. Understanding this diversity is fundamental to appreciating NZSL’s unique identity.
When searching for NZSL resources online, always verify the content teaches NZSL specifically. The two-handed alphabet confirms BANZSL family membership, but NZSL-specific vocabulary differs from BSL and Auslan. The NZSL Online Dictionary is the authoritative reference for confirming NZSL-specific signs.
Getting Started
NZSL courses are available through Deaf Aotearoa, community education providers, and Victoria University of Wellington. Beginner courses teach the alphabet, vocabulary, basic grammar, and Deaf cultural awareness — everything you need to start your NZSL journey.
The NZSL Online Dictionary (nzsl.vuw.ac.nz) is the essential free resource — a comprehensive video dictionary accessible from any device. Bookmark it immediately and use it daily for vocabulary learning and reference.
The Deaf community welcomes learners. Attending Deaf events, even with minimal NZSL skills, provides real-world practice and community connection. Deaf Aotearoa can connect you with events and groups in your area.
Now you know what New Zealand Sign Language is called — NZSL. It’s a remarkable language with an intimate community, official legal status, and unique cultural character. Whether you learn for personal, professional, or community reasons, your NZSL skills contribute to a more accessible Aotearoa.
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