Four Māori language picture books from the award-winning Te Reo Singalong series have been translated into New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL), including one about Matariki.
There are 13 books in the full Te Reo Singalong series, the four most popular books were chosen to be translated into NZSL as free digital versions - "Matariki", "Kia Ora", "Kei te Peke Ahau", and "He Aha Tēnei?"
Author of the Te Reo Singalong books, Sharon Holt, has been working on the project with KDEC's signers and interpreters for the past 12 months.
She says it’s been an exciting project to be involved in, "We’ve had many requests to put our 13 books in NZSL over the years, so it’s wonderful to finally achieve that for four of our titles, and to make the videos available free," she says.
"It’s great to know that these videos will help the Deaf Community as well as making NZSL accessible to teachers, parents and children throughout New Zealand who already know our books. It’s a true win-win situation."
The project was completed with funding from the New Zealand Sign Language Board and in conjunction with Kelston Deaf Education Centre (KDEC).
It features one of KDEC's Tū Kōkiri students, 19-year-old Tuhoi Henry (Te Uri o Hau), as the signer on the videos.
Tuhoi says he would like to see more Māori sign interpreters, “I have a dream to see more Māori sign interpreters, so we can feed back into the Deaf community and show how things can be done in a Deaf way, but also in a Māori way.”
The digital books have already received positive feedback from various kura Māori, schools, preschools and other groups since their launch during this year's NZSL Week.
Holt is pleased that the project will make NZSL available to hearing tamariki and whānau already enjoying Te Reo Singalong books in homes, schools and preschools across New Zealand.
She says, "Because of the high recognition level of our Te Reo Singalong books among children, we expect that the digital versions featuring NZSL will be assimilated easily. I really hope that this project will encourage more children to learn NZSL."
To view the four Te Reo Singalong video books, visit their website here.