Articles

Kirsten, John and Shannon are over the moon at the recognition of New Zealand Sign Language. "It was the best day for the deaf community; it felt awesome to be a part of the process and support it all the way."

A history of St Dominic's School for the Deaf was launched in March in Feilding and Auckland. 'We See What You Mean' has been the culmination of many years' work by author Dorothy Pilkington and the school's History Society Committee.

People who can hear as well as see 'Reasonable Doubts' (TV3, 9.50pm Saturdays) might be surprised to learn that Deaf New Zealanders can understand deaf lawyer Tessa Kaufman’s sign language little better than they can. ASL, used by Deaf actor Marlee Matlin, is a foreign language here. My Deaf friends give it the thumbs up. But the failure of television in New Zealand to provide anything in NZSL is described as “a running sore” by Hilary McCormack.

Deaf students have the right to equal access to tertiary education but who will pay for sign language interpreters?

A new house build can be a challenging time for a young couple. But Gregory and Victoria Lessing are also deaf, and undertook a house build from scratch using NZSL.

New Zealand's Kevin Lawrence won silver in the World Games for the Deaf marathon yesterday, but had to survive a protest.

Palmerston North's Annette Scott is hoping to learn how to involve more deaf people in sport when she goes to the Deaflympics in Taiwan next week. Scott is going as New Zealand's Chef de Mission in a 13-strong tour party, which includes six athletes.

St Dominic's Wing for Deaf Children is alive and well and integrated with St Joseph's School in Feilding, says principal Sister Gemma.

A fight has begun against a justice system which some deaf people regard as denying them basic human rights.

Peter Downie is a basketball referee of considerable merit, a national badge holder for eight years, Downie recently shifted to Auckland from Christchurch.

Sumner School for Deaf Children has taken an adventurous step by beginning a trial integration of a class of 'hearing' children into the school.

Arash Tayebi’s idea to develop sign language avatar technology is personal. And while Kara Technologies is still in the pilot stage, Tayebi hopes the technology will become easier to access as 24/7 teachers or in emergencies.

Madedra, the Manawatu Deaf Drama Group, is putting on a show 'People' which plays at the National Library next Sunday. They have also been invited to perform in the International Festival of Deaf Theatre in Spain but still needed to raise enough money.

Over 3000 people flocked to St. Dominic's School for the Deaf yesterday afternoon to hear the Catholic Prelate, His Grace Archbishop P.T.B. McKeefry, bless the new building and officially open it.

Tickets for the opening ceremony are at $8.00 while the closing ceremony is at $5.00. All other tickets prices are listed: $3.00 per ticket for 1 venue entry. $6.00 per ticket entry to all venues on 1 day. $40 ten venues entry on any day.

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.

New Zealand finished the World Games for the deaf in California with a gold in cycling and a gold and silver in badminton – their best result ever.

Coventry who will contest the 5000 and 10,000 metres and 15-mile modified marathon races, has perhaps the best chance for a medal in the longest event.

Bruce McHattie, having just returned from a world conference for the deaf in Rome, says that New Zealand is so far behind in the rest of the world in services for the deaf.

Northland sign language tutor Eddie Hokianga has taken up the task of ensuring the region's deaf Māori community is heard. Hokianga (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Porou) has spent the last three years teaching te reo sign language to help fill a national void of interpreters fluent in the discourse.

Local man Lindsay Jones has a national reputation as a skilful storyteller. Unless more people learn sign language, however, that recognition is likely to remain limited mainly to the deaf community.

An observer tags along to watch delegates from the N.Z. Deaf Societies Convention at their annual meeting in Wellington, noting “sometimes debates flared, and a number of delegates were gesticulating wildly, making their points.”

Ross Freemantle, of New Zealand, works his way into the Finnish goal area in a basketball match in the World Games for the Deaf at Cowles Stadium yesterday. The New Zealand team led until the last two seconds, but lost, 78-79.

Nine third-formers, all described as "profoundly deaf", began secondary school this year at Hutt Valley Memorial Technical College.

A deaf student has been left feeling hurt after he was cast aside and forgotten about following a fire drill in a university building. Had it been a proper fire emergency, he would have been in serious danger, he said and wanted to see strobe light alarms installed.

The 600 people in Wellington at last have their own sign interpreter. Rachel Locker was appointed as sign language interpreter for the deaf on Monday.

New Zealand's Michael Lynch is on target for a gold medal in the 200m butterfly event at the World Games for the Deaf.

Lower Hutt's Myra Sullivan showing hearing people how to use sign language at a workshop for the deaf held at Wellington College of Education yesterday.

Lost in Mime are Madedra performers Les Rose, Ann Croy and Lindsay Jones. The deaf drama group performs at the Globe Theatre today and tomorrow at .730pm. 'City, Country and Sheep' involves 20 deaf people.

A revolutionary device which opens up a whole new world for those born deaf is now being demonstrated in Wellington. New Zealand is the only second country in the world to adopt the system so far.