Indigenous signs: New Zealand

Indigenous signs for cities in New Zealand (Aotearoa)

National flag David Bar-Tzur

map of country

Flag: World flag database.
Map: Maps.com - "search" for country, then "Digital Map Graphics".

For a quick, interesting resource for facts about this and other countries,
try Mystic Planet - The New Age directory of Planet Earth.

Explanation of glossing system used
(to understand how I describe the signs in this dictionary)

Auckland: (1) Index finger taps the thumb of [5], PO away, FO up, twice. (< NZSL fingerspelling of "A".) (2) Index finger touches the thumb of [5], PO away, FO up, then knuckle of [X] touches midjoint of [1], PO > DS, FO up. (< NZSL fingerspelling of A-K.) For a drawing of this sign, see http://www.vanasch.school.nz/pdfs/NZSL/Auckland.pdf - you may need to scroll down to see the image. (3) [1], PO away, FO up, twists while rising and supinating.² (< Being the largest city and therefore "number one" or because of the Sky Tower.)
Blenheim: [O^], is bent at wrist with PO down, and FO away, and FT are swung from side to side. For a drawing of this sign, see http://www.vanasch.school.nz/pdfs/NZSL/Blenheim.pdf - you may need to scroll down to see the image.
Christchurch: [C], PO away from signer, FO up, moves forward slightly, then moves > DS a bit, then moves forward again.² For a drawing of this sign, see http://www.vanasch.school.nz/pdfs/NZSL/Christchurch.pdf - you may need to scroll down to see the image.
Dunedin: [D] arm is held with elbow at angle and squeezes together 2x as if playing bagpipe.² (< a large Scottish population, and this is the indigenous sign for "Scotland" which in turn is related to the bagpipe.) (2) FT of [bC] tap the ends of the [1], PO > DS, FO up, twice.⁴ (< their fingerspelling of D.)
Fielding: [I], PO > signer, FO up, circles CCW as seen from above.⁴
Gisborne: (2h)[S], POs ><, FOs away, DH strikes NDH from above. (< NZSL fingerspelling "G".) For a drawing of this sign, see http://www.vanasch.school.nz/pdfs/NZSL/Gisborne.pdf - you may need to scroll down to see the image.
Greymouth: [H], PO > signer, FO up, circles mouth. (< NZSL fingerspelling "G".) For a drawing of this sign, see http://www.vanasch.school.nz/pdfs/NZSL/Greymouth.pdf - you may need to scroll down to see the image.
Hamilton: (1) [S], PO > signer, FO up, flex muscle so that hand moves away from signer.² (< the Mauri presence, an ingenous people who were great warriors and thus the relationship to "strength".) For a drawing of this sign, see http://www.vanasch.school.nz/pdfs/NZSL/Hamilton.pdf - you may need to scroll down to see the image. (2) (2h)[B], DH PO down, is drawn across the upturned palm of the NDH, like the ASL sign NICE.⁴ (< NZSL fingerspelling for "H".)
Hastings: [S], PO > signer, FO up, flex muscle so that hand moves away from signer.⁴ (< the Mauri presence, an ingenous people who were great warriors and thus the relationship to "strength".)
Hawke's Bay: [bC], PO away, FO up, is held at the nose like a hawk's beak and nods downward.⁴
Invercargill: [1], PO > signer, FO up, circles CCW as seen from above, just above waist. For a drawing of this sign, see http://www.vanasch.school.nz/pdfs/NZSL/Invercargill.pdf - you may need to scroll down to see the image.
Kaikoura: I can't figure out how to sign this from the drawing. Give it a try yourself. For a drawing of this sign, see http://www.vanasch.school.nz/pdfs/NZSL/Kaikoura.pdf - you may need to scroll down to see the image.
Levin: [L], PO > NDS, FO up, moves forward slightly once.⁴
Lower Hutt: Hutt Valley, the Hutt: [B], PO down, FO away, nods downwards slightly, and then (2h)[B], DH PO down, is drawn across the upturned palm of the NDH, like the ASL sign NICE.⁴ (< "lower" and the NZSL fingerspelling for "H".)
Napier: [bO^] is held at mouth like a beak and the hand arcs forward and down. For a drawing of this sign, see http://www.vanasch.school.nz/pdfs/NZSL/Napier.pdf - you may need to scroll down to see the image. This is the same sign as "kiwi".
Nelson: [N], PO > signer, FO > NDS, touches tip of nose, moves away and down and then arcs upwards. For a drawing of this sign, see http://www.vanasch.school.nz/pdfs/NZSL/Nelson.pdf - you may need to scroll down to see the image.
New Plymouth: (1) [Bb], PO away, FO up, supinates.⁴ (2) (2h)[B^], NDH PO up, FO away, DH PO away, FO up, brushes the FT against the NDH palm as if scooping up something. (Like the ASL sign NEW.) Then the NZSL letter "P" is formed by placing the FTs of [bO] against NDH [1], PO > DS, FO up.⁴ (3) (2h)[B^], NDH PO up, FO away, DH PO away, FO up, brushes the FT against the NDH palm as if scooping up something. (Like the ASL sign NEW.) Then the index finger circles around the mouth.⁴ (4) [H], PO > signer, FO up, circles mouth. For a drawing of this sign, see http://www.vanasch.school.nz/pdfs/NZSL/New_Plymouth.pdf - you may need to scroll down to see the image.
North Island: [H], PO down, rests its FT in the palm of [B], and both hands rise. Then [loose F], PO > NDS, FO away, moves CCW.⁴ (Literally NORTH ISLAND.)
Otago: (1) [loose F], PO away, FO up, moves CCW as seen by signer.⁴ (2) [loose F], PO > NDS, FO away, moves CCW.⁴
Palmerston North: FT of [bO] is held against NDH [1], PO > DS, FO up. Then [H], PO down, rests its FT in the palm of [B].⁴ (< the NZSL fingerspelling of P-N.) For a drawing of this sign, see http://www.vanasch.school.nz/pdfs/NZSL/PalmerstonNorth.pdf - you may need to scroll down to see the image.
Picton: FT of [A dot], PO > NDS, taps against the throat near the chest twice.⁴
Rotorua: (2h)[S], POs up, FOs away, hands alt. move upwards and open to a [5^], then descend and close to an [S].⁴ (< thermal activity.) For a drawing of this sign, see http://www.vanasch.school.nz/pdfs/NZSL/Rotorua.pdf - you may need to scroll down to see the image.
South Island: (2h)[I] interlace FT with the DH lower. Then [loose F], PO > NDS, FO away, moves CCW.⁴ (The NZSL letter "S" and the sign ISLAND.)
Taupo: (1) [T], PO > NDS, FO away, flexs thumb towards the shoulder twice.⁴ (2) It is difficult for me to interpret the graphic, but it seems like it shows (2h)[bX], PO s ><, FOs up, move forward and strike each other on the palmar surfaces. For a drawing of this sign, see http://www.vanasch.school.nz/pdfs/NZSL/Taupo.pdf - you may need to scroll down to see the image.
Tauranga: [A], PO down, FO > NDS, is held over the elbow of NDH [B], PO down, FO > DS. The DH twists at the wrist as it moves > the DS. For a drawing of this sign, see http://www.vanasch.school.nz/pdfs/NZSL/Tauranga.pdf - you may need to scroll down to see the image.
Wanganui: [W], PO down, FO away, moves down and > NDS while twisting at the wrist.
Wellington: (1) (2h)[5], PO > signer, FO ><, interlace 2x.¹ (< the BSL "W".) (2) "W".² (< the ASL "W".) For a drawing of this sign, see http://www.vanasch.school.nz/pdfs/NZSL/Wellington.pdf - you may need to scroll down to see the image.
Whangarei: (2h)[5], POs > signer's ears, FOs up, hands move forward while twisting at wrists.⁴ For a drawing of this sign, see http://www.vanasch.school.nz/pdfs/NZSL/Whangarei.pdf - you may need to scroll down to see the image.

List of sources cited

1. Signs around the world: Cities [Videotape]. Burtonsville, MD: Sign Media.
2. Daniel S. Hanks, NZSL interpreter, personal communication, 2001.
3. nVOAK@xtra.co.nz, personal communication, 2001.
4. http://www.mcs.vuw.ac.nz/~pondy/nzsl/ (NZSL dictionary), which now denies permission.

Home