Dear Department of Internal Affairs,

Further to my email 26 Oct 2021, Subject: Alternative Formats.

I'd like to know how the current alternative formats: audio, braille, Easy Read, large print, and New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) were decided upon, and signed off. (https://www.digital.govt.nz/standards-an...)

Please include meeting minutes and timelines around these and any other formats or languages that were considered but didn't make it over the line.

My feeling is that this decision gave further weight and resourcing to New Zealand Sign Language, over Aotearoa's indigenous language Te Reo Māori (which is also an official language under the Māori Language Act 1987).

My understanding of the social model of disability is that it means a societal barrier which someone might face to gaining access to a service, information, everyday life, etc.

In honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi I would assume someone should have the right to grow up in Aotearoa with Te Reo Māori as their first language and not have to conform to English as the imposed language for government services.

By the government not offering to communicate in Te Reo Māori as an official Alternative Format I feel the government is disabling some of its citizens. Are there currently other mechanisms to request government content/communications be translated, that I'm simply unaware of?

Thanks,

Nic Lane