The Captioning Working Group has presented a submission to the Government Administration Select Committee Inquiry into Captioning in New Zealand.

The CWG submission raised concerns at the lack of broadcast captioning when emergency situations are announced, such as in the Bay of Plenty when a state of emergency was declared.

'Captioning was not provided with the broadcast announcements and access to this evolving situation by the people in the Bay of Plenty who had hearing loss was denied,” says CWG chairperson Dr. Louise Carroll.

'Over 800,000 people have some type of hearing loss and many are being denied access to such vital information and the CWG is convinced that it is only a matter of time before a life is lost because of this.”

In addition, Louise says the CWG is also 'frustrated and incredulous” the marginalisation caused by the lack of legally mandated broadcast media captioning has been permitted to go on for so long.

'So much longer in New Zealand than in other developed countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom.”

This CWG hopes the Government Inquiry will show how serious this situation is and that this important access issue will be addressed as quickly as possible.

A large group of New Zealanders are marginalised because they are not offered inclusion through access, adds Louise.

'In a 21st century digital society, inclusion for all New Zealanders really does matter.”

The Captioning Working Group is made up of representatives from The National Foundation for the Deaf, Hearing Association of New Zealand, and Deaf Aotearoa New Zealand.

For more information, visit www.captionitnz.co.nz or to learn moreabout theGovernment select committee inquiry into captioning in New Zealand, visit www.parliament.nz