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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
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Janet Watt
2001
Object – Taonga source: Hawkes Bay Deaf Club

Framed Award of Recognition: 45 Years of Volunteer Service – Polly Forman

Hawkes Bay Deaf Club
NZSL Stories
  • Ruth Jessep
2005
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Silver Medal: Ten Pin Bowling, New Zealand Deaf Games, New Plymouth 2005

Manawatu Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Colleen Norris
  • Tony Walton
  • Shona McGhie
  • Ruth Jessep
1981
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: September 1981 (Vol. 18, No. 3)

NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Milton Reedy
  • John Hunt
  • Shona McGhie
Est. 1993
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Manawatu Deaf Society Indoor Bowls: Women’s Singles

Manawatu Deaf Society

Preserving our tāonga – our NZSL history and language.

Find out more! 

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
  • Tony Walton
  • John Hunt
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'.
Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Colleen Norris
  • John Mansell
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!
Deaf Society of Canterbury
1994
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: October 1994

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Shona McGhie

Help us name people in videos!

Yep, I’m keen! 

1979
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Top: Auckland Deaf Indoor Bowls Club

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Colleen Norris
1950
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Singlet: Wellington Society for the Deaf (WSD) basketball, 1950

Wellington Deaf Society
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!
Deaf Society of Canterbury

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

Yes, I do!  

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.
Stuff
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.
Television New Zealand Archive
1966
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Athletics Representatives, October 1966

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Terry Kane
  • Doug Croskery
  • Milton Reedy
2014
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2014 (Vol. 36, No. 1)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
NZSL Stories
  • Ruth Jessep
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.
Television New Zealand Archive

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

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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
  • Patreena Bryan
  • Tony Walton
Est. 1998
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Carroll Trophy: Skeet Clay Shooting – High Points

Manawatu Deaf Society
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.
Rodney Roberts
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
Est. 1972
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society Neeley Trophy: Men’s Indoor Basketball – Past v Present

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Doug Croskery
Wellington Deaf Society
Wellington Deaf Society
Wellington Deaf Society
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.

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1990
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: June 1990

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Terry Kane
  • Doug Croskery
  • Colleen Norris
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Ruth Jessep
  • Shirley Bregmen
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

Hawkes Bay Deaf Club
NZSL Stories
  • Ruth Jessep
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.
Manawatu Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • John Mansell
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

Manawatu Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Tony Walton
  • Shona McGhie
1991
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: October 1991

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went

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