2019
article – Taonga source: The Northern Advocate
New Year Honours: Whangārei’s Kim Robinson, MNZM, deaf community advocate
A trip to the United States in 1990 gave Whangārei man Kim Robinson extra motivation to seek better and equal access for the deaf community in New Zealand. Now, that commitment to ensuring deaf people are heard and their needs met has seen him made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to the deaf community in the New Year's Honours List.
NZSL Stories
1957
article – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Deaf Society Ball
Debutantes who were presented to the Mayor and Mayoress Mr and Mrs Ashby at the first ball organised this week by the Auckland Adult Deaf Society.
2022
article – Taonga source: Stuff
Aotearoa’s first Deaf marae celebrates 30 years of empowering Turi Māori
Friday marks 30 years since the opening of the country’s first marae for Deaf and hard of hearing Māori. Since 1992, Rūaumoko Marae, in West Auckland’s Kelston, has been a place where Deaf students can learn about te ao Māori.
2021
article – Taonga source: NZ Herald.
Deaf Northlander Eddie Hokianga urges Māori to turn their hand towards trilingual interpreter roles
Northland sign language tutor Eddie Hokianga has taken up the task of ensuring the region's deaf Māori community is heard. Hokianga (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Porou) has spent the last three years teaching te reo sign language to help fill a national void of interpreters fluent in the discourse.
Est. 1998
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Auckland Deaf Society Fishing Club: Heaviest Snapper of Year
NZSL Stories
Preserving our tāonga – our NZSL history and language.
1989
Object – Taonga source: Lorraine Butler
Bronze Medal: Women’s Basketball, 16th World Deaf Games, Christchurch
NZSL Stories
1994
article – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
250 attend school’s jubilee celebrations
Three first-year pupils and three sets of twins numbered among the 250 or so former pupils, teachers, family and friends who attended the St Dominics School for the Deaf 50th jubilee over Anzac Weekend.
2016
article – Taonga source: The Northern Advocate
Danger for deaf drives campaign
A Northland advocate is behind a campaign to get deaf-friendly fire alarms installed in public buildings, after a deaf university student was left behind during a drill. Whangarei's Kim Robinson, chairman of Deaf Action New Zealand, is driving the petition to make visual fire alarms - similar to what many deaf people have in their homes - mandatory in public buildings.
1987
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive
News Review now includes ‘hand sign language’
In 1987, News Review became the first New Zealand programme to incorporate NZSL in its production. The show ceased in 1991 and to date, there has not been a similar programme using Deaf presenters or NZSL in full.
1984
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
Ephpheta: Summer 1984 (Vol. 7, No. 4)
Help us name people in videos!
1980
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Auckland Deaf Society Basketball Club: Waitemata Basketball Assn – Winter ‘B’ Grade Championship, 1980
NZSL Stories
1956
video – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Adult Deaf Picnic: Trip to Motuihe Domain
Deaf adults enjoying ice cream, beer, and bathing suits, all while watching HMNZ Tamaki navy recruits training on Motuihe Island.
NZSL Stories
1994
video – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
Ex-pupils visit the old St Dominic’s school in Feilding
A tour of the old St Dominic’s school grounds in Feilding as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations in April 1994. Ex-pupils explore the old school grounds and reminisce about their time here.
1989
Images – Taonga source: Clive Morgan
Team Photo: Wellington Deaf Society Men’s Basketball Team, New Zealand Deaf Games 1989
NZSL Stories
1976
video – Taonga source: Deaf Society of Canterbury
National Deaf Indoor Bowls Championships, Dunedin 1976
The Open Indoor Bowls Championship for the Deaf was held in Dunedin in 1976. Christchurch and Dunedin teams battle it out, with the hosts winning a hard fought contest 298 pts to Christchurch’s 272 points.
Do you have films, photos or papers about the Deaf World?
1983
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Netball Club, Teams B and A, 1983
NZSL Stories
1980
video – Taonga source: Deaf Society of Canterbury
Two founding members of Christchurch Deaf Club take a trip down memory lane
Cyril Pruden and Douglas Ashley, two founding members of the Christchurch Deaf Club, discuss the club’s history at its Armagh Street location.
1989
article – Taonga source: Christchurch Star
Medals eyed in 3 events
Four New Zealand deaf athletes are favoured to win medals in swimming, cycling, and badminton. The 112-strong New Zealand team will compete in 11 of the 12 sports.
NZSL Stories
1998
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Communicate: Summer 1998
1992
Images – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society
Team Photo: Manawatu Deaf Basketball Club, 1992
NZSL Stories
Do you know any online videos that SignDNA should link to?
2017
article – Taonga source: Stuff
Sisters set up deaf cooking class to help deaf people with mental health issues
Two Auckland sisters are helping deaf people living in isolation connect with others through a cooking class. Yolanda Sutton began the cooking class with her deaf sister Natasha Jumelet after they formed the Deaf Wellbeing Society.
1981
article – Taonga source: NZ Woman’s Weekly
Deaf people CAN lead a ‘normal’ life….
– and Val Jillings and her deaf family prove it! This is Deaf Awareness Week – so the Quota Club of Auckland will hold week-long displays, video films and discussions in the city’s Downtown Walkway and Centrecourt.
1984
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: February 1984
NZSL Stories
Est. 1958
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE
Kelston Deaf Education Centre (Ko Taku Reo)
Kelston Deaf Education Centre (now Ko Taku Reo; previously Kelston School for the Deaf). Kelston was established on a site in Archibald Road in 1958. The school had relocated firstly from Titirangi, then from Mt Wellington. KDEC used to provide education in a range of satellite classes throughout Auckland the upper North Island. Kelston, which also hosts Rūaumoko Marae, merged with van Asch Deaf Education Centre to become Ko Taku Reo in 2020.
1950
video – Taonga source: Archives New Zealand
National Film Unit visits St Dominics School for the Deaf
The Government’s National Film Unit follows the City District Health Nurse as she visits students at St Dominic’s School for the Deaf.
Everyone has a story to tell.
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
1987
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Netball Club, Netball Competition and Labour Weekend 1987
NZSL Stories
Est. 1959
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Deaf Welfare Centre Indoor Bowling Club: Graded Fours
NZSL Stories
1978
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Basketball Club, 1978
NZSL Stories
1973
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: 1973 (Vol. 10, No. 1)
NZSL Stories
Do you know of an online article that SignDNA should link to?