1998
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post
Graduates silent but definitely not joyless
A group of graduating Victoria University students never spoke a word yesterday during the quietest graduation party ever held. The students were New Zealand's first to graduate with a certificate in Deaf studies.
1946
article – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
Teaching The Deaf To Speak
Margaret is one of some 21 kiddies, aged from five to seven years, who for the most part born deaf, are receiving special instruction at St. Dominic's School for the Deaf at Island Bay, Wellington, the first Catholic institution of its kind to be established in the Dominion.
1955
video – Taonga source: Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision
NZ Deaf Sports Convention 1955 – Christchurch
NZ Deaf Sports Convention is held at Rugby Park, Christchurch in 1955.
NZSL Stories
1979
article – Taonga source: The Press
Mixed doubles badminton at the Trans-Tasman Deaf Games
Carolyn Hamlin keeps a keen eye on the opposition while Lindsay Bamford returns a shot during the mixed doubles Badminton competition of the triennial Trans-Tasman Deaf Games at Lincoln College.
Est. 1979
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society
Manawatu Deaf Netball Club: Most Improved
Preserving our tāonga – our NZSL history and language.
1980
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Dramatic Club, 1980-81
NZSL Stories
1989
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: August 1989
NZSL Stories
1977
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Sports Representatives, Wellington 1977
NZSL Stories
1968
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society
Wellington Deaf Indoor Bowls badge, 1968
Est. 1980s
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE
The Sign Singing Superstars
Throughout the early 1980s, the New Zealand Deaf community created two sign singing supergroups: The Sign Singers from Auckland, and The Silent Singers from Christchurch. These two groups pioneered Sign Singing as an art form and gained considerable public admiration for their efforts. Both groups made appearances on national Telethon events, and the Auckland group also were regulars on the Stars on Sunday programme, making more appearances than any other single group.
Help us name people in videos!
Est. 1944
Collection
St Dominic’s School for Deaf Children
We are all aware of the immense value St Dominic's has contributed to the New Zealand Deaf education sector. St Dominic’s School for the Deaf opened in 1944 to provide a Catholic based education to deaf children, and ran for 45 years before closing in May 1989.
1983
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post
Telephones for the deaf
For the first time since they met, Pam and Kaz Witko can talk to each other on the telephone… well, it’s not really talking it’s more like writing letters, only a lot faster.
2016
video – Taonga source: Attitude Pictures
Deaf Teen’s New School
Gaby Evans is 13 and moving hundreds of kilometres from her rural home to Auckland's Kelston Deaf Education Centre. Until now she's been isolated, and never had to know how to sign. If she's going to make it on her own she's going to have to come out of her shell and learn to communicate with her deaf classmates.
1955
video – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Sports Convention picnic at Motukarara, 1955
During the 1955 Sports Convention hosted in Christchurch, a picnic is held at Motukarara, by Lake Ellesmere in Canterbury.
NZSL Stories
1991
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: June 1991
NZSL Stories
Do you have films, photos or papers about the Deaf World?
2016
Images – Taonga source: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union
Team Photo: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union, 23rd National Deaf Rugby Championship, 2016
1986
video – Taonga source: Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision
The Magic Park
In November 1986, film maker Ann Andrews organised a week-long drama workshop for six 13 year olds from Kelston School for the Deaf. The workshop concluded with the play, The Magic Park, written and acted by the students.
1992
article – Taonga source: Victoria News, Victoria University of Wellington
Dictionary for the language of the deaf
Nearly quarter of a million dollars in sponsorship has been raised for the NZSL dictionary, a joint effort by the University and the New Zealand Association of the Deaf.
1996
article – Taonga source: Taranaki Daily News
Lobbying pays off for deaf community
Three years of lobbying for more support has finally borne fruit for the Taranaki deaf community. An office of the Deaf Association opened in New Plymouth this week, to provide needs assessment, information and some interpretation services for deaf people.
NZSL Stories
2022
article – Taonga source: The Northern Advocate
Northland marae set up te reo and deaf sign programmes to grow national languages
Twenty marae across Northland want to grow the number of whānau who can speak te reo Māori ... in sign language. An eight week course, He Aha, is about to get under way to help whānau improve communication with tangata turi.
Do you know any online videos that SignDNA should link to?
1970
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: 1970 (Vol. 7, No. 4)
NZSL Stories
1982
article – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society
Coping in a hearing world
Rachel Noble and Donna Allen, both 17 and profoundly deaf, talk about their experiences in education.
1982
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
Ephpheta: March 1982 (Vol. 5, No. 1)
1984
video – Taonga source: Susan Hamilton
Auckland Schools for Deaf: 45th Reunion
Brief footage of the crowd at Kelston for its 45th reunion. The Auckland weather holds up for the outdoor festivities!
NZSL Stories
1991
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: August 1991
NZSL Stories
Everyone has a story to tell.
1973
article – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Deaf Athletes Cut Records
Three national records were equalled or passed at the national Deaf Sports Convention meeting held at Mt Smart yesterday (women's 400m, men's shotput, men's 100m relay).
NZSL Stories
1988
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
Ephpheta: June 1988 (Vol. 11, No. 1)
1993
article – Taonga source: The Weekly News
Deaf parents face the challenge of child-rearing
Whilst most parents face months of sleepless nights when they bring a new baby home, Jackie and Steven are confronted with the opposite problem of not being able to hear their babies crying.
1989
article – Taonga source: The Press
Hearing controversy at Deaf Games
The first big controversy wracked the sixteenth World Games for the Deaf in Christchurch yesterday, when members of the Soviet table tennis team had to take an audio test because of suspicions that they could hear too well.
NZSL Stories
1979
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Top: Auckland Deaf Indoor Bowls Club
NZSL Stories
Do you know of an online article that SignDNA should link to?