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1987
video – Taonga source: Ngaire Doherty

Using drama as a means of communicating

A group of deaf and hearing-impaired people feature in ‘First Half’, where they “are using drama as a means of communicating”.
Ngaire Doherty
1990
article – Taonga source: Western Leader

Julie-Anne’s a Winner

Julie-Anne is the new Miss Deaf New Zealand. Coming second-runner up in the Miss Auckland Deaf competition, saw her go through to Miss New Zealand.
1984
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: Autumn 1984 (Vol. 7, No. 1)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
2016
Images – Taonga source: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union

Team Photo: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union, 23rd National Deaf Rugby Championship, 2016

Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union
1998
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

Hearing Dogs for Deaf people sets up in NZ

A new scheme has begun, to train dogs to become hearing dogs for Deaf people, and also aims to have hearing dogs granted the same access rights as guide dogs for blind people.
Television New Zealand Archive

Preserving our tāonga – our NZSL history and language.

Find out more! 

1981
video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie

Sign Singers at Telethon 1981

The popular Sign Singers are the first act to perform at the 1981 Telethon Live at the Auckland Town Hall.
Dulcie McKie
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
2012
video – Taonga source: Attitude Pictures

Deaf Politician Mojo Mathers

Mojo Mathers is New Zealand's first Deaf Member of Parliament. She's using her position to advocate on disability, but she's battled her own prejudices.
Attitude Pictures
1991
article – Taonga source: Contact

Music will help those who cannot hear it

The Wellington Deaf Society urgently needs new premises, and 51 American Barber Shop singers will help to raise the $200,000 needed to buy them. The society has $80,000 saved from 53 years of street appeals. Noel Ramsey, a volunteer worker, is disppointed ticket sales for the concert has been slow.
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
1990
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Pennant: Auckland Deaf Basketball Club 40th Anniversary, 1950-1990

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Doug Croskery
  • John Mansell
1989
article – Taonga source: Christchurch Star

Penny…and her thoughts

Penny Went collected a silver medal at the last World Games for the Deaf – now she is home and aiming for gold.
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Jeff Went
  • Pam Croskery
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Tony Walton
  • Terry Kane
  • Kevin Pivac

Help us name people in videos!

Yep, I’m keen! 

1980
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: September 1980 (Vol. 17, No. 5)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
  • Patreena Bryan
  • Shona McGhie
1985
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Pennant: Runners Up, Golf, 29th N.Z. Deaf Sports Convention – Auckland 1984

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • John Mansell
  • Doug Croskery
  • Shona McGhie
1993
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

Ivan Curry case has positive spinoff

Some good has resulted from the tragic case of deaf man Ivan Curry who was found not guilty after nearly two years in jail for murder, says the Deaf Association.
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
2009
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: July 2009

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Doug Croskery
  • Terry Kane
  • Richard Hay
  • Ruth Jessep
  • Colleen Norris
  • Cecilia Waitohi
  • Shirley Bregmen
1985
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

DEAF GAMES

New Zealand finished the World Games for the deaf in California with a gold in cycling and a gold and silver in badminton – their best result ever.
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Terry Kane
  • Janet Watt
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Pam Croskery

Do you have films, photos or papers about the Deaf World?

Yes, I do!  

2006
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

8 Ball Pool Shirt: Northern Deaf Eight Ball Pool

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Shirley Bregmen
  • Shona McGhie
  • Terry Kane
  • Tony Walton
  • Michelle Kruger
2001
video – Taonga source: DEAFinitely Youth Group

Miss and Mr Deaf New Zealand, 2001

The ‘007’ themed Miss and Mr Deaf New Zealand event, expertly hosted by Victoria Skorikova and Tony Walton was a major fundraising event for the 2nd Asia Pacific Deaf Youth Camp. It was organised in 5 weeks and raised $7,000 towards camp costs.
DEAFinitely Youth Group
NZSL Stories
  • Keethan Sundar
1987
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Journal: June 1987 (Vol. 1, No. 2)

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
  • Ruth Jessep
1982
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: Christmas 1982 (Vol. 5, No. 3)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1970-80s
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

MCM DAVCO Teletypewriter (TTY)

Wellington Deaf Society

Do you know any online videos that SignDNA should link to?

Let us know! 

1990
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: October 1990

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Terry Kane
  • John Mansell
  • Colleen Norris
1973
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

Telephones For The Deaf Are Opening Up A New World Of Communication

A revolutionary device which opens up a whole new world for those born deaf is now being demonstrated in Wellington. New Zealand is the only second country in the world to adopt the system so far.
1991
video – Taonga source: Dorothy Jones

NZSL Tutors attend an intensive City Lit Training course in London

In the history of NZSL teaching, perhaps the most important development was when 8 NZSL tutors attended a two-week intensive teaching course in London in 1991. Watch this condensed version (taking from almost 29 hours of footage!) to get a sense of what the training was like.
Dorothy Jones
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
1994
video – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Pilgrimage to the original St Dominic’s Wellington school

A group of past pupils visit the original Dover Street location in Island Bay, Wellington, as part of the Golden Jubilee of the founding of St Dominic’s School for the Deaf.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1989
publication – Taonga source: Shona McGhie

VXIth World Games for the Deaf, Christchurch: 7-17 January 1989

Shona McGhie
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Jeff Went
  • Susie Ovens
  • Janet Watt
  • Tony Walton
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Michael Lynch

Everyone has a story to tell.

Share yours! 

1979
video – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Trans-Tasman Games hosted in Christchurch, 1979

Opening ceremony of the Trans-Tasman Games, Including a traditional Maori welcome for the Australian team.
Manawatu Deaf Society
1993
article – Taonga source: The Press

Cash-strapped deaf school axes jobs

Twenty-three of the 39 residential care staff at van Asch College were made redundant yesterday as a result of Government funding cuts last year.
2002
video – Taonga source: Inside Out

Inside Out: Inaugural World Deaf Rugby Championship

Inside Out features the inaugural World Deaf Rugby Championship, including coverage of the final between New Zealand and Wales at Eden Park, Auckland in 2002.
Inside Out
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
2002
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Northern Sports Team, Indoor Netball, 2002

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • John Schischka
  • Tony Walton
1968
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: 1968 (Vol. 6, No. 1)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
  • Kevin Pivac
  • John Mansell

Do you know of an online article that SignDNA should link to?

Let us know!