
1951
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society
Pennant: Wellington Deaf Society Basketball, 1951
NZSL Stories

1980-90s
Object – Taonga source: Hawkes Bay Deaf Club
Basketball Uniform: Hawkes Bay Deaf Club
NZSL Stories
2004
video – Taonga source: Rūaumoko Komiti
Patrick Thompson’s ‘Te Hēteri’ interview – unedited footage
Unedited footage of Patrick Thompson’s ‘Te Hēteri’ interview at the famed Star Sign Cafe on Auckland’s Dominion Road in 2004.

1970-80s
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society
New Zealand Deaf Sport Mascot: A stuffed Kiwi
NZSL Stories


Est. 1980s
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE
The Sign Singing Superstars
Throughout the early 1980s, the New Zealand Deaf community created two sign singing supergroups: The Sign Singers from Auckland, and The Silent Singers from Christchurch. These two groups pioneered Sign Singing as an art form and gained considerable public admiration for their efforts. Both groups made appearances on national Telethon events, and the Auckland group also were regulars on the Stars on Sunday programme, making more appearances than any other single group.
Preserving our tāonga – our NZSL history and language.

Est. 1986
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Auckland Deaf Sports Indoor Bowls Club: Ladies Singles
NZSL Stories
1981
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
Ephpheta: June 1981 (Vol. 4, No. 2)

Est. 2006
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society
Manawatu Deaf Social Club: Ladies Pairs – Darts

1962
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society
Framed Photo: Manawatu Deaf Club First Committee, 11 August 1962

1971
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Team Photo: Australian Deaf vs Auckland Deaf Society, Men’s Indoor Basketball, 1971
NZSL Stories
Help us name people in videos!

2003
Images – Taonga source: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union
Team Photo: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union, 2003

1989
Object – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts
Souvenir Key Ring: 16th World Games for the Deaf, Christchurch 1989
NZSL Stories
1982
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
Ephpheta: September 1982 (Vol. 5, No. 2)

1980s
Object – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts
Silver Pin: N.Z Fern
NZSL Stories
1987
article – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society
A silence full of sounds
Wellington actor Miranda Harcourt who plays Sarah in Children of a Lesser God, understands her character's sentiments. She spent eight months learning sign language before the play opened at Dunedin's Fourtune Theatre in October.
Do you have films, photos or papers about the Deaf World?

2002
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Team Photo: Northern Sports Team, Mixed Touch Team, 2002
NZSL Stories
1985
article – Taonga source: The Dominion
Job advertisement: Field officer for the deaf – Wellington
A job advertisement for a field officer for the deaf in Wellington, a resourceful person experienced in Social Work to assist deaf clients and carry out liaison and information work on matters relating to deafness.
NZSL Stories
1978
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
New Zealand Catholic Deaf Newsletter: December 1978 (Vol. 1, No. 3)
NZSL Stories
1986
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: Summer 1986 (Vol. 22, No. 3)
NZSL Stories
1991
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post
Backchat no problem for lip-reading ref
Deafness has failed to keep John Mansell from a successful career as a rugby league referee. "I know the rule book inside out. If you know the rules and the signals well there's no reason why a referee has to talk."
NZSL Stories
Do you know any online videos that SignDNA should link to?
2022
article – Taonga source: Stuff
Deaf community to be consulted on NZSL Act but advocate fears they will be ignored
The first NZSL-led consultation to amend current legislation has opened, but advocates fear their advice will be ignored.

1954
Images – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society
Team Photo: Wellington Society for the Deaf Table Tennis Team, Winners New Zealand Deaf Societies Table Tennis Shield, 1954
NZSL Stories

Est. 2000
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society
NZ Games for the Deaf, Millennium Trophy: Interclub Winner – Darts
NZSL Stories
1993
article – Taonga source: The Press
Cash-strapped deaf school axes jobs
Twenty-three of the 39 residential care staff at van Asch College were made redundant yesterday as a result of Government funding cuts last year.

Est. 1985
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Auckland Deaf Society Basketball Club: Peter Murray Cup – Most Improved Woman Player
NZSL Stories
Everyone has a story to tell.
1978
article – Taonga source: The Daily News
Deaf protest TV licences
Fifty deaf people registered a silent protest outside the Auckland Magistrate’s Court yesterday about what they say is the subtle discrimination of New Zealand against deaf people.
1984
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post
Job advertisement: Field officer for the deaf – Wellington
A job advertisement for a field officer for the deaf in Wellington, a resourceful person experienced in Social Work to assist deaf clients and carry out liasion and information work on matters relating to deafness.
NZSL Stories
2012
video – Taonga source: Attitude Pictures
My Deaf Parents
Parents and teenagers don't always see eye to eye, but what if they speak a different language? This CODA family, with Deaf parents, is learning how to keep the lines of communication.

Est. 2009
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Auckland Deaf Society Fishing Club: Record Gurnard of Year
NZSL Stories
1983
article – Taonga source: Eastern Suburbs News
Telephone talk for the deaf
Mrs Lilian Walton of Kilbirnie is the proud owner of a new machine which enables deaf people to talk on the phone. For Mrs Walton, the teleprinter means she can "talk" to her deaf son and his deaf wife.
Do you know of an online article that SignDNA should link to?
















