More than 3500 sign petition for deaf MP

More than 3500 people have signed a petition calling for Parliament to fund special assistance for deaf MP Mojo Mathers.

Wellington student Merrin Macleod started the petition last week following news that Speaker Lockwood Smith had told the Green MP she would have to fund a note-taker from her MP support budget.

The note-taker provides an instant transcript of what is being said in the House, and Ms Mathers said without it she could not participate in Parliament.

Dr Smith said while Parliamentary Service paid for the technological support, the actual note-taker was a staffing cost, and he did not have the authority to approve such funding.

He said he would raise the issue at the next Parliamentary Services Commission (PSC) on March 7.

As of this morning, 3687 people had signed the web-based petition, many of whom wrote a message about why they supported it.

"I am signing because nobody should be blocked from equal access to Parliament, a forum that is supposed to mirror all the people of New Zealand,'' Sheryl McLennan of Oamaru wrote.

Wendy of Tauranga said it was a "very simple human rights issue of equity of participation'', while Ben Haslett of Rangiora wrote "Official Language = Official Voice. Prove your stance by your actions.''

Meanwhile, the Green Party says it is still waiting for a response from Dr Smith regarding its request for him to call the meeting of the PSC sooner.

Co-leader Metiria Turei wrote to the Speaker on February 15, to say the March 7 date was too far away and the party thought the issue needed to be resolved prior to that.