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1977
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Sports Representatives, Wellington 1977

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Colleen Norris
  • Doug Croskery
  • John Mansell
  • Milton Reedy
  • Sharron Attwood
  • Terry Kane
1988
article – Taonga source: Christchurch Star

Here’s to Games

Three officials of the World Games for the Deaf pause to toast the success of the venture, as teams from more than 30 countries arrive in Christchurch.
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
1970
video – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Teaching the Deaf: St Dominic’s School for the Deaf in Feilding

What was school life was like for pupils who attended St Dominic’s School for the Deaf in Feilding? Footage includes hearing tests, classroom teaching, and celebrating a pupil’s 5th birthday with his classmates, before Mass with the Sisters.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1973
article – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Bringing Beauty to the Deaf

Make-up sessions for deaf women were set up, teaching how to use glossers, glissers, eyeliners, shaders, blushers and highlights.
Auckland Deaf Society
1980
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

Split over how to teach deaf worries parent

Parents of deaf children would be saddened to hear that educationists oppose teaching deaf pupils the technique of "total communication", a parent has stated in a letter to the Post.

Preserving our tāonga – our NZSL history and language.

Find out more! 

1988
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Journal: September 1988 (Vol. 2, No. 3)

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
2006
video – Taonga source: Dan Hanks

President gives tour of old Auckland Deaf Society building

Auckland Deaf Society President Kevin Pivac gives a tour of the Club’s building prior to its demolition and rebuild.
Dan Hanks
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • John Schischka
1978
video – Taonga source: Dennis Tod

Christchurch Basketball and Netball teams leave for Greymouth

The Christchurch Deaf Mens Basketball team travel to Greymouth, accompanied by the Deaf netball team.
Dennis Tod
2023
article – Taonga source: NZ Herald.

Whaikaha the first ministry with a name in all of NZ’s official languages

Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People has become the first and only government ministry with a name in all three of New Zealand’s official languages.
NZ Herald.
1970
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: 1970 (Vol. 7, No. 4)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt

Help us name people in videos!

Yep, I’m keen! 

1989
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: August 1989

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Terry Kane
  • Colleen Norris
  • Doug Croskery
  • John Mansell
  • Ruth Jessep
  • Michelle Kruger
  • Jeff Went
1993
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

Spotlight on Pasifika Deaf

Tangata Pasifika visits Kelston Deaf Education Centre and meets with a number of Pasifika Deaf students part of the school’s transition programme, interviewing Rosie Amituanai and her family.
Television New Zealand Archive
1955
video – Taonga source: Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision

Sumner School for the Deaf 75th Jubilee

The 75th Jubilee of Sumner School for the Deaf in Christchurch, including alumni parades and marching girls!
Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision
2000
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Signed Rugby Ball: Deaf Blacks, 2000

Manawatu Deaf Society
Est. 1992
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Basketball Club: Anton Cup – Most Improved Player of the Year

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Doug Croskery

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

Yes, I do!  

2011
article – Taonga source: Stuff

Special votes win deaf MP a seat

Mojo Mathers' rise to Parliament has been labelled a success not just for the Green Party, but also for the New Zealand deaf community.
Stuff
Est. 1975
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society Basketball Club: Best Player of the Year

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Doug Croskery
  • John Mansell
1951
video – Taonga source: Owen Gibbons

Christchurch Deaf men with (and on) their bicycles

Black and white footage of a group of Christchurch Deaf men with their bicycles chatting to the camera excitedly before riding on the road, and signing at the same time!
Owen Gibbons
Est. 1991
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

New Zealand Deaf Sports Association: Dunedin Superstrike, Most Outstanding Player

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Colleen Norris
  • Ruth Jessep
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
1985
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Sports Representatives, Napier 1985

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Terry Kane
  • Susie Ovens
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Tony Walton
  • Doug Croskery
  • John Mansell

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

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2000
video – Taonga source: AUT Visual Languages Section

Memories of Ivan and Hilda Tamepo

In an open and touching interview, Ivan and Hilda tell their tales of growing up in New Zealand, and look back on photos from their deaf schooling years.
AUT Visual Languages Section
NZSL Stories
  • Patreena Bryan
  • John Mansell
1990
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: August 1990

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Terry Kane
  • Doug Croskery
  • John Mansell
  • Pam Croskery
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Ruth Jessep
  • Kevin Pivac
2016
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2016 (Vol. 38, No. 4)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1969
article – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Runs Hard At Drop Of Hanky

Noel Coventry is a 22-year-old deaf athlete and the sole New Zealand representative going to the Deaf Olympics in Yugoslavia. Club officials would drop a handkerchief for him to sight as a sign that the starting gun had been fired.
Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Patreena Bryan
  • Terry Kane
  • Milton Reedy
1991
video – Taonga source: Rodney Roberts

Northern Deaf XV vs Southern Deaf XV

Northern Deaf XV vs Southern Deaf XV held at Linton Military Camp near Palmerston North on 31 March 1991.
Rodney Roberts

Everyone has a story to tell.

Share yours! 

Wellington Deaf Society
Wellington Deaf Society
Wellington Deaf Society
Est. 1938
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE

Wellington Deaf Society

Wellington Deaf Society is the heart of the Wellington Deaf Community. Established on 30 July 1938, has moved a couple of times since its formation, from gatherings at people's places, leased halls and buildings, meet-ups at different pubs, to a co-owned building at 17 Bannister Ave, Johnsonville, Wellington – where it is now.
2016
article – Taonga source: Hawkes Bay Today

Past pupils to reunite 50th Anniversary of the Onekawa School Deaf Unit

This weekend past and present pupils of Onekawa School will be coming together to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Onekawa School Deaf Unit. From March 22 to March 25, ex-pupils and friends of the Onekawa deaf unit will meet in Hawke's Bay to remember their schooling experiences, share stories and visit the site of the old unit.
Hawkes Bay Today
NZSL Stories
  • Ruth Jessep
2004
video – Taonga source: AUT Visual Languages Section

Memories of Susan Thomas (2004)

Susan Thomas talks about her many life experiences, love of sports, and what it was like to work on ‘News Review’ as a Deaf presenter in the late 1980s.
AUT Visual Languages Section
NZSL Stories
  • Michelle Kruger
2002
publication – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

43rd New Zealand Games for the Deaf: Wellington, 24-28 October 2002

Wellington Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Ruth Jessep
  • Tony Walton
  • Shona McGhie
  • Colleen Norris
2017
video – Taonga source: New Zealand Society of Translators and Interpreters

Te Tiriti o Waitangi in New Zealand Sign Language

This resource was created for the Treaty Times Thirty project, an initiative by the New Zealand Society of Translators and Interpreters to translate New Zealand’s founding document, Te Tiriti of Waitangi into 30 different languages.
New Zealand Society of Translators and Interpreters

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