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1984
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Rosette: DEAF SOCIETY WELLINGTON, 1984

Wellington Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • John Mansell
1989
video – Taonga source: Dorothy Jones

Deaf Kiwis abroad!

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.
Dorothy Jones
2019
video – Taonga source: Merge NZ

After decades of crusading for NZ’s deaf community, Auckland woman honoured as ‘local hero’

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.
Merge NZ
1987
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: September 1987 (Vol. 10, No. 2)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1976
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Pennant: Manawatu Deaf Men’s Basketball Assn, Memento of N.S.W Tour 1976

Manawatu Deaf Society

Preserving our tāonga – our NZSL history and language.

Find out more! 

1968
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Rosette: AUCKLAND – N.Z. Deaf Convention, Christchurch 1968

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Shona McGhie
  • John Mansell
  • Tony Walton
1966
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Western Suburbs Indoor Basketball League, Deaf Demons, 1966

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Doug Croskery
2013
publication – Taonga source: Oticon Foundation

Soundscape: March 2013

Oticon Foundation
2015
video – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

History through Young Eyes: Interview with Susie Ovens

A Tu Kokiri student interviews Susie Ovens on her involvement with the infamous Deaf Sign Singers group.
Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
1990
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Combined Sports Representatives, 1990

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Doug Croskery
  • Colleen Norris
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton

Help us name people in videos!

Yep, I’m keen! 

2001
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Framed Pocket Patch: Northern Zone Deaf 8 Ball Pool Club

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Terry Kane
  • Michelle Kruger
  • Shona McGhie
  • Shirley Bregmen
1982
video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie

Sign Singers: ‘Born Free’

The Sign Singers perform the song 'Born Free' broadcast on Stars on Sunday in June 1982.
Dulcie McKie
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
1964
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Indoor Basketball “B” Team, 1964

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Doug Croskery
  • John Mansell
1965
article – Taonga source: Pam Witko

Outfits for Deaf Games

World Deaf Games Chaperon Kath Smith – her husband is the manager and both are also deaf – adjusts swimmer Rossell MacKenzie's hat at a final outfitting in Auckland.
Pam Witko
1962
Images – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Team Photo: Y.M.C.A. Indoor Basketball, Wellington Deaf Sports Club, 1962

Wellington Deaf Society

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

Yes, I do!  

1982
article – Taonga source: Karori News

Deaf are helped

The new Wellington field office is playing its part in other developments of interest to deaf people, such as the spread of total communication and the growing importance of the Wellington Deaf Society.
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • John Hunt
1985
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

Cricket in silence

Wayne Riggs (Wellington) beats Shaun Ruffel (Taranaki) to the wicket in a practice game by members of the Central District Deaf Sports team before the Saturday match against an Australian deaf team.
Est. 2010
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Eight Pool Club: The 5s Tournament, Best Player of the Year

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Terry Kane
  • Michelle Kruger
  • Shirley Bregmen
1994
video – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Celebrations at the St Dominic’s Golden Jubilee

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.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1981
article – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Lip service

The producer of News Review explains the innovations and experimentations they have made in creating the programme, specially designed for the hard of hearing.
Wellington Deaf Society

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

Let us know! 

2023
article – Taonga source: Woman’s Day

Erica Dawson’s sign language battle ‘We’re nothing to be afraid of’

"There's still a lot of barriers for deaf people in this country," says Erica, who lost her hearing when she was six months old. "We face all sorts of challenges that hearing people take for granted, such as finding interpreters to help us with schoolwork or meetings at work."
Woman’s Day
2002
video – Taonga source: Sonia Pivac

In memory of Wallace Williams: A Deaf life!

A montage celebrating Wallace Williams’ life and his contribution to the Auckland Deaf community.
Sonia Pivac
NZSL Stories
  • Pam Croskery
2002
video – Taonga source: Kevin and Lynette Pivac

Māori & Pacific Island Deaf play against Japan Deaf Rugby XV

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.
Kevin and Lynette Pivac
Deaf Society of Canterbury
Deaf Society of Canterbury
Deaf Society of Canterbury
Est. 1922
Collection

Deaf Society of Canterbury

The Deaf Society of Canterbury is New Zealand’s oldest Deaf Club, established on 26 April 1922. Originally Christchurch Deaf Club, later changed to Christchurch Deaf Society, and to Deaf Society of Canterbury as it is known today, it has provided the inspiration for the establishment of other Deaf Clubs around New Zealand.
Deaf Society of Canterbury
2018
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2018 (Vol. 40, No. 1)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Everyone has a story to tell.

Share yours! 

1970
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Sports Representatives, N.Z. Deaf Sports Convention, 1970

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Colleen Norris
  • Kevin Pivac
  • John Mansell
  • Terry Kane
  • Shona McGhie
  • Milton Reedy
  • Tony Walton
1969
article – Taonga source: John McRae

Cheering out for deaf

Most of these taking part in the sports convention last weekend live in a silvent world constantly. Yet no observer could have mistaken the enjoyment the spectators at the badminton expressed in their conversation, using signs and movements of their arms, hands and lips.
John McRae
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Pam Croskery
  • Doug Croskery
  • John Mansell
1998
video – Taonga source: Kevin and Lynette Pivac

NZ Deaf Rugby Team in Wales

See Hear reports on the New Zealand Deaf Rugby team’s tour of the UK in 1998.
Kevin and Lynette Pivac
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
1979
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Athletics Pennant: 24th N.Z Deaf Sports Convention, Host Christchurch 1979

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Terry Kane
  • Milton Reedy
  • Tony Walton
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Shona McGhie
  • Doug Croskery
1980
article – Taonga source: NZ Woman’s Weekly

Helen Keller: The great made her their heroine

To mark the centenary of the birth of Helen Keller on June 27, 1880, Pat Dugale has written about unusual experiences in her life.

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

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