Using New Zealand Sign Language In Court

If your first or preferred language is New Zealand Sign Language you may have the right to use New Zealand Sign Language in legal proceedings before Courts and Tribunals. The New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006 makes provision for this right.

This means that you can use New Zealand Sign Language in any legal proceedings at the following:

Supreme Court
Court of Appeal
High Court
District Court
Employment Court
Family Court
Youth Court
Māori Land Court
Māori Appellate Court
Environment Court
Waitangi Tribunal
Employment Relations Authority
Human Rights Review Tribunal
Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal
Tenancy Tribunal
Coroners Court

Who may use New Zealand Sign Language in a Court or Tribunal?

The New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006 specifies that certain people whose first or preferred language is New Zealand Sign Language may use New Zealand Sign Language in legal proceedings.

Any of the following persons may use New Zealand Sign Language:

The parties (the person who is bringing the case or the person who is defending the case)

Any witness

Any member of the Court or Tribunal

The lawyers or other person representing a party in the proceedings

Anyone else if the Judge or person in charge agrees.

What happens at the Court or Tribunal?

When you use New Zealand Sign Language an interpreter will interpret what you have said into spoken language.

Remember that other people in the Court will use spoken language. An interpreter will interpret what they have said into sign language.

Interpreters

The Court or Tribunal will organise an interpreter. The interpreter must meet specific interpreting standards to provide interpreting services to the Court or Tribunal.

How do I tell the Court or Tribunal that I want to use New Zealand Sign Language?

You will need to get a copy of the form ‘Request for an Interpreter’. You can get a copy of this form from your local court or from the Ministry of Justice website at www.justice.govt.nz/pubs/courts-publications/Request-for-an-interpreter.pdf. (PDF 86Kb)

The address of your local Court is in the blue pages of your local telephone book under "Justice, Ministry of".

Complete the form.

Take or send the form to the Court, if possible, at least 28 days before the scheduled hearing.

If you do not tell the court that you want to use New Zealand Sign Language until you are actually in Court, this may delay your case.

Will using New Zealand Sign Language cost me anything?

No. The Court arranges payment for the interpreter.

For further information contact your local court.

Courts 057
May 2006