Successful NZSLTA conference

The Deaf Club was buzzing with approximately 80 conference participants and Auckland Deaf community members also came to check out the action. The evening started with a powhiri led by Richard Peri to welcome all conference participants. James Pole, Conference Chair, also welcomed everyone.

There were two days of thoughtful discussions, actions and debates at Waipuna, the conference venue. See NZ Sign Language Teachers Association website for conference programme. The theme was "Diversity in NZSL Teaching" and Nick Padden from England was our guest speaker. TeachSign website was launched and many were excited about this new resource for NZSL teachers.

The NZSL Storyfest (National NZSL Storytelling Competition) was also held on Saturday night. Congratulations to the following winners: 1st - Sonia Pivac; 2nd - Victoria Lessing; 3rd - Susan Hamilton.

The next NZSLTA conference is likely to be at AUT University in 2017, which will be 25th anniversary of NZSL interpreting programme and NZSLTA.