Delay for signed debate defended

Delays in a sign language interpretation of tonight’s final political debate are ’’inadequate and undemocratic’’, says a deaf advocacy group.

The group has called on TVNZ and Deaf Aotearoa to provide realtime access to the final debate between Jacinda Ardern and Bill English.

The push follows Monday’s announcement the first New Zealand Sign Language version of tonight’s political clash between the Labour and National party leaders would be broadcast on Friday morning.

Deaf Action chairman Kim Robinson said a two-day delay for the interpreted stoush was not good enough.

He said the broadcast hold-up of the interpreted debate meant the deaf community was given ‘‘old news’’, and TVNZ was ‘‘ignoring’’ the urgency to provide full access and participation of hard-ofhearing people in politics.

‘‘Participating in elections is a real-time event, which voters need to be able to discuss with others, and to think about their voting options,’’ he said.

‘‘This is sending deaf people to the back of the queue.

‘‘Deaf people ... want live, equal access just like everyone else.’’

Deaf Aotearoa chief executive Lachlan Keating said the group was the largest representation of the hearing-impaired Kiwis which was working toward a 2020 goal for live debate interpretations.

He said the progress between Deaf Aotearoa, TVNZ and the Human Rights Commission on behalf of the deaf community this election was positive.

‘‘We’re pleased with the outcome for this debate. It’s certainly a big improvement on the first debate a few weeks ago,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s not a perfect solution but given the technological restraints it is a solution we’re satisfied with at this juncture.’’

He said a working group would continue to make improvements after Friday’s interpreted debate aired.

But the delay was necessary for accuracy and was ‘‘not just a case of throwing an interpreter on TV’’.

TVNZ spokeswoman Georgie Hills said the station’s position would not change. She said to incorporate sign language into programmes was ‘‘new territory’’.

‘‘We’re learning as we go and we looking forward to see how viewers respond to the greater choice we’re offering this time,’’ Hills said.

‘‘We’re pleased to be offering for the first time both a signed version and live captioning of our debate for hard-of-hearing and deaf viewers.’’

Deaf Action plans to file a complaint with the Human Rights Commission in relation to the delay to real-time coverage.

The final live debate will be captioned for hearing-impaired viewers. The New Zealand Sign Language-interpreted Vote 17 Final Leaders Debate will be broadcast on TVNZ on Friday morning.