1989
article – Taonga source: The Press
Interpreters spent year on training
Nearly 90 Christchurch people have spent the last year training to be interpreters at the World Games for the Deaf, with about 50 deaf people teaching the volunteers their language.
NZSL Stories

2001
Object – Taonga source: Hawkes Bay Deaf Club
Framed Award of Recognition: 45 Years of Volunteer Service – Polly Forman
NZSL Stories

2005
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society
Silver Medal: Ten Pin Bowling, New Zealand Deaf Games, New Plymouth 2005
NZSL Stories
1981
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: September 1981 (Vol. 18, No. 3)
NZSL Stories

Est. 1993
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society
Manawatu Deaf Society Indoor Bowls: Women’s Singles
Preserving our tāonga – our NZSL history and language.
biography
Profile
John Rua (Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal)
John Rua is a Master Carver, a living tohunga in his art. He has carved thousands of stunning artefacts which have been displayed in maraes and museums across the country, including the carving of Te Tira Hou meeting house in Auckland, Ohope Marae in Whatakane and Okains Bay Maori and Colonial Museum in the South Island. His most noticeable achievement was training carvers at the Ngā Hau e Whā National Marae in Christchurch, a project which took 8 years to complete.
1981
article – Taonga source: The Press
Deaf field officer for Christchurch
A field officer for the deaf, Mr David Chilwell, a former president of the Christchurch Deaf Club, has been appointed in Christchurch as a result of a grant from the Lottery Funds Board.
NZSL Stories
1966
article – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Indoor Bowls Trophy To Auckland
The Auckland indoor bowls team which beat Northland for the 'Ranfurly Shield of indoor bowls'.
NZSL Stories
1975
video – Taonga source: Deaf Society of Canterbury
Christchurch Deaf Basketball: A trip to Westport
The Christchurch Deaf Club basketball team travels to Westport during Queen’s Birthday weekend 1975 to participate in the Matai Invitation Tournament. Games are played at the Westport Community Hall. Footage covers players travelling to the West Coast via cars, with a few stops on the way, and a compulsory stop at the pub!
1994
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Communicate: October 1994
NZSL Stories
Help us name people in videos!

1979
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Top: Auckland Deaf Indoor Bowls Club
NZSL Stories

1950
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society
Singlet: Wellington Society for the Deaf (WSD) basketball, 1950
1969
article – Taonga source: The Auckland Star
They’re shut out-lonely and deaf
Trevor Fear, Auckland's newly-appointed deaf welfare officer talks about his experiences, the deaf community and their needs.
1985
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post
Pam and Kaz take life in their stride
Says Pam: “I think for me I live in two worlds and have two languages, the deaf language and the hearing language. I speak the deaf language because I was brought up with it.”
1976
video – Taonga source: Deaf Society of Canterbury
Dunedin vs Christchurch: Indoor Bowls at Christchurch Deaf Club
Dunedin and Christchurch battle it out at the Christchurch Deaf Club’s Armagh Street hall during winter where the mountain ranges around Christchurch are covered with snow!
Do you have films, photos or papers about the Deaf World?
2023
article – Taonga source: Stuff
Future leaders of Deaf community share vision for NZ Sign Language
While NZSL Week runs from May 8-14, young leaders of the Deaf community are continuously advocating for their culture and language in the hearing world every other week of the year.
1992
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive
New Zealand Police Commissioner considers Deaf access to justice
Two weeks after 'The Remand of Ivan Curry' screens on TV1, Police Commissioner John Jamieson meets with Jennifer Brain to work out better procedures for dealing with Deaf people in custody.

1966
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Athletics Representatives, October 1966
NZSL Stories
2014
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
Deaf Southern Star: 2014 (Vol. 36, No. 1)
NZSL Stories
1985
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive
First sign language interpreting course
An insight into the teaching and learning of those involved in the first sign language interpreting course in New Zealand 1985.
Do you know any online videos that SignDNA should link to?
1991
article – Taonga source: NZ Herald
The sounds of silence
Turn the light on, so I can hear what you're saying. It's an old line, but a favourite one among us hearing-impaired people, because it points up how we "hear" with our eyes as surely as blind people "see" with their fingers or their ears.
NZSL Stories

Est. 1998
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society
Carroll Trophy: Skeet Clay Shooting – High Points
1992
video – Taonga source: Rodney Roberts
Canterbury plays Wellington ‘Lions’ in a close match of rugby league
The Wellington ‘Lions’ Rugby League team assembled at the Randwick Club to welcome their Canterbury opponents. After the match, players and supporters enjoy the Randwick hospitality before moving on to a private venue.
NZSL Stories

Est. 1972
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Auckland Deaf Society Neeley Trophy: Men’s Indoor Basketball – Past v Present
NZSL Stories


Est. 1938
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE
Wellington Deaf Society
Wellington Deaf Society is the heart of the Wellington Deaf Community. Established on 30 July 1938, has moved a couple of times since its formation, from gatherings at people's places, leased halls and buildings, meet-ups at different pubs, to a co-owned building at 17 Bannister Ave, Johnsonville, Wellington – where it is now.
Everyone has a story to tell.
1990
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: June 1990
NZSL Stories

1996
Object – Taonga source: Hawkes Bay Deaf Club
Framed photo: Polly and Ray Forman holding a sign, FORMAN HOUSE in front of the new Hawkes Bay Deaf Club
NZSL Stories
1976
article – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society
Twenty First Deaf Sports Convention
This month, the Manawatu Deaf Club will again host the Annual New Zealand Deaf Convention. It will be the twenty-first with over 200 people competing. 160-170 will be from Auckland, Waikato, Taranaki, Wellington, Christchurch and Southland. Local competitors make up the total.
NZSL Stories

1995
Images – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society
Team Photo: Manawatu Deaf Society, New Zealand Games for the Deaf Inter-Club Competitions at Porirua, October 1995
NZSL Stories
1991
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: October 1991
NZSL Stories
Do you know of an online article that SignDNA should link to?















