The issue had come to the fore now New Zealand had its first profoundly deaf MP in Green list MP Mojo Mathers, Ms Curran said yesterday.
Parliament resumes on February 7 and the Dunedin South MP wants to meet Dr Smith before then to discuss the issue, she said.
"We have our first profoundly deaf MP and I celebrate her success. But it is a wider issue that affects 700,000 New Zealanders with a hearing disability.
"For Mojo to be able to participate fully in the Parliamentary process, she needs access to what all MPs are saying in the House."
Also, those New Zealanders affected with a hearing disability could participate in the democratic process by seeing what people were saying through captions running along the bottom of television screens, Ms Curran said.
"This will cost money but it will be worth it. It is clearly time to put this issue at the top of the agenda."
Ms Mathers and the Greens did not respond to emailed questions yesterday.
In an earlier interview, Ms Mathers indicated she would probably need a combination of electronic note taking in Parliament with a laptop or screen at the desk.
There would also be some situations in Parliament where she would also need a sign language interpreter.
Sign language is New Zealand's third official language.
For several years, there have been interpreters in te Reo, the second official language.
Ms Mathers said she was aware of the importance of having sign language in Parliament to enable wider access to political debate.
