
Est. 1989
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society
Central District Deaf Cricket Club: Player Of The Year

Est. 1974
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Auckland Deaf Society Badminton Club: Barkla Cup, Women’s Doubles
NZSL Stories

1950-80s
Object – Taonga source: Pam Witko
Collection of Max Howell’s Wellington Deaf Society Indoor Bowls badges and pins
1983
article – Taonga source: NZ Herald
Sign Language Puts The Deaf in Tune
The Deaf Sign Singers have a busy schedule this year with performances throughout the North Island.
NZSL Stories
1995
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Communicate: February 1995
NZSL Stories
Preserving our tāonga – our NZSL history and language.

2015
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society
Souvenir Pen: Manawatu Deaf Indoor Bowls Club – 40th Anniversary, 1975-2015

1991
Object – Taonga source: Hawkes Bay Deaf Club
Souvenir Paperweight: Deaf View Conference, November 1991

Est. 1981
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Sir Woolf Fisher Memorial Trophy: Auckland Deaf Sportsman of The Year
NZSL Stories
1965
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: Winter 1965 (Vol. 2, No. 4)
NZSL Stories
2012
article – Taonga source: Stuff
New TV assistance for deaf viewers
Deaf and hearing-impaired Kiwis are about to get a lot more choice in what they watch on television thanks to closed captioning being introduced on 10 new channels.
Help us name people in videos!

Est. 1976
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Auckland Deaf Society Fishing Club: The Oxspring Cup – Most Aggregate Points Snapper
NZSL Stories
2023
article – Taonga source: Stuff
Meredith Karim can listen and speak, but she thinks in sign language
Meredith Karim was just five months old when she started using NZSL to communicate. She was born a hearing child to deaf parents, often known by the acronym CODA. She says while most people have a voice talking in their heads expressing their thoughts, she visualises hers in NZSL.
1978
video – Taonga source: Deaf Society of Canterbury
Canterbury Deaf Club teams travel to Greymouth
The Canterbury Deaf Club Basketball & Netball teams travels to Greymouth, with the ‘Deaf Boys’ playing against the ‘Hot Shots’ and winning 67-54.

Est. 1993
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society
Manawatu Deaf Club Darts: Player of the League – Singles

2017
Images – Taonga source: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union
Team Photo: Central Zone Deaf Rugby, 2017
Do you have films, photos or papers about the Deaf World?

Est. 1961
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Deaf Welfare Centre Indoor Bowling Club: Brian Tewsley Memorial Trophy – Aggregate Points
NZSL Stories

1994-96
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society
Shirt: Central Districts Deaf Cricket


Est. 1992
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE
Rūaumoko Marae
Rūaumoko Marae has been part of Deaf Māori community for 30 years and is a central part of Deaf Māori community. It's a place where Deaf Māori can just be; they can connect and learn about te ao Māori.

1970-80s
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society
Netball Uniform: Manawatu Deaf Society

1980-90s
Object – Taonga source: Hawkes Bay Deaf Club
8 Ball Pool Trophy: Hawkes Bay Deaf Club
NZSL Stories
Do you know any online videos that SignDNA should link to?

Est. 1975
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Auckland Deaf Society Indoor Bowing Club: Aggregate Points
NZSL Stories
1961
article – Taonga source: Pam Witko
Deaf athletes for World Games
Five young deaf men fundraising for Helenski are touring the North Island in their car to help finance their trip.

2008
Object – Taonga source: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union
Banner: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union, Winners 2008, National Deaf Rugby Inter-Zonal Championships
1972
video – Taonga source: Pam and Doug Croskery
Auckland Deaf Men’s Basketball team training
On Auckland’s West Coast, Auckland Deaf basketball men train for the New Zealand Deaf Sports Convention in Wellington 1972.
NZSL Stories
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.
Everyone has a story to tell.
2016
article – Taonga source: The Press.
Deaf chef Kristofer Jonsson encourages others to break through barriers
Kristofer Jonsson is a calm and quiet chef, never yelling at anyone in the kitchen, and for good reason – he's deaf. "I focus on the visual side – you can look at the colour, where things are browning."
2022
video – Taonga source: Māori Television
Deaf basketball heads to Greece for world cup
The Black Thunder national basketball team is preparing for the World Deaf Basketball Cup next year in Greece. The Black Thunder team completed two games over the past weekend in Palmerston North and Wellington competing against the Australian national deaf basketball team, The Goannas.
2019
video – Taonga source: Attitude Pictures
Using sign language as a family
The Fergusons are an average family of five who have fun, sometimes fight but mostly get along. The main difference is that three of them are deaf, and NZSL is the first language for the whole family. How does this work in a busy household with two teens and a toddler? We spend a few days with the Fergusons and discover it works remarkably well. Especially for the eldest Zoe who is exploring advocating for New Zealand deaf youth.
NZSL Stories

1980s
Object – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts
Silver Pin: N.Z Fern
NZSL Stories
1995
video – Taonga source: Richard Peri
Second test: New Zealand Deaf vs South Africa
The first ever International Deaf Rugby Test Series was held in New Zealand in 1995 between New Zealand and South Africa. South Africa won the series 2-1.
NZSL Stories
Do you know of an online article that SignDNA should link to?

















