SignDNA is the home of Aotearoa New Zealand’s visual Deaf history.

Deaf New Zealanders take timeout for some sightseeing during a trip to the first, week-long Deaf Way conference in 1989 in Washington DC, USA.

The New Zealander of the Year will be announced tonight and as part of it, a number of local heroes have been recognised. One of them is Aucklander Victoria Lessing, who has been deaf her whole life and has spent 20 years raising the profile of NZSL. Two years ago, her passion developed into a company called Merge NZ, which she runs alongside her business partner, Jaime Brown.

A Tu Kokiri student interviews Susie Ovens on her involvement with the infamous Deaf Sign Singers group.

The Sign Singers perform the song 'Born Free' broadcast on Stars on Sunday in June 1982.

Footage from the 50th Jubilee of St Dominic’s School for the Deaf, with over 200 people attending a weekend of festivities at the Fielding Racecourse during the Anzac Weekend of April 1995.

A montage celebrating Wallace Williams’ life and his contribution to the Auckland Deaf community.

TVNZ’s Marae programme features the friendly game between Deaf Māori & Pacific Island Invitational XV and the Japan Deaf Rugby team. It includes the pre-match team talk with coach Richard Peri, karakia from kaumatua Ivan Tamepo, and discussions with assistant Togia Lanefale. It concludes with highlights of the match which was closely fought but finally won by Japan 20-17.

See Hear reports on the New Zealand Deaf Rugby team’s tour of the UK in 1998.