HomeDeaf ClubsAuckland Deaf Society

Established in 1937, Auckland Deaf Society (ADS) is New Zealand’s largest (and second oldest) Deaf Club. Previously called the ‘Auckland Adult Deaf Society’ and the ‘Deaf Welfare Centre’, the club’s original home was at an old shop on 47 Parnell Road in Auckland, before moving to 164 Balmoral Road with enormous support from the ‘Friends of the Deaf’. Auckland Deaf Society is now located at 16 Hillsborough Road. The 43-minute long ‘My Second Home’ documentary takes you through the history of Auckland Deaf Society. Its Senior Citizens group has amassed a large number of films and donated them to SignDNA. They cover a wide range of events and activities, many of which continue today in one form or another. Objects were photographed in 2024. If you have more archival items relevant to Auckland Deaf Society, please get in touch.

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Est. 1981
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Sir Woolf Fisher Memorial Trophy: Auckland Deaf Sportsman of The Year

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Terry Kane
  • Shona McGhie
  • John Mansell
  • Ruth Jessep
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Colleen Norris
  • Michelle Kruger
1951
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Basketball Singlet: Auckland Adult Deaf Society Indoor Basketball, 1951

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Doug Croskery
Est. 1993
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Wellington vs Auckland Deaf Golf: Best Gross 36+

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Doug Croskery
  • John Mansell
1990
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: December 1990

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Doug Croskery
  • Pam Croskery
  • Jonathan Anton
  • John Mansell
  • Terry Kane
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Shona McGhie
1976
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Netball Club, B Team, 1976

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Colleen Norris
Est. 1974
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society Indoor Bowls Club: Triples

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Colleen Norris
  • John Mansell
Est. 1959
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Deaf Welfare Centre Indoor Bowling Club: Graded Pairs

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Colleen Norris
1980
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society, Winners of Bob Scott Memorial Shield (Badminton), 1980

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Shona McGhie
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Pam Croskery
  • Doug Croskery
  • John Mansell
  • Tony Walton
Est. 1959
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Deaf Welfare Centre Indoor Bowling Club: Graded Fours

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Colleen Norris
  • John Mansell
1991
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: August 1991

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • John Hunt
  • Ruth Jessep
  • Doug Croskery
  • Tony Walton
  • Colleen Norris
2006
video – Taonga source: Dan Hanks

Last Friday night at Auckland Deaf Society before the rebuild

Footage and interviews from the final Friday night at Deaf Club at Auckland Deaf Society before its long-awaited re-development in 2006.
Dan Hanks
NZSL Stories
  • John Schischka
  • Kevin Pivac
Est. 1965
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society Snooker Championships

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Michelle Kruger
  • Terry Kane
  • Shirley Bregmen
Est. 1973
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society Badminton Club: Anton Cup, Men’s Singles – Round Robin

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Pam Croskery
  • Doug Croskery
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Shona McGhie
1983
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Netball Club, 1983

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
  • Colleen Norris
  • John Mansell
1982
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Badminton Club, 1982

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Tony Walton
  • Pam Croskery
  • Kevin Pivac
  • John Mansell
  • Shona McGhie
  • Doug Croskery
Est. 1968
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society Ladies Snooker

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Shirley Bregmen
  • Terry Kane
  • Michelle Kruger
2002
video – Taonga source: Sara Pivac Alexander

International Postcard: New Zealand

DeafTV from Denmark makes a trip to New Zealand to feature the country and its Deaf community on its ‘International Postcard’ series, with scenes from a normal Friday night at the Deaf Club, a trip to the Deaf Association office. The Deaf Danish crew are also welcomed onto the Rūaumoko Marae.
Sara Pivac Alexander
1981
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society Social and Sports Executive Committee, 1981-1982

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
1951
video – Taonga source: Owen Gibbons

Picnic at Duders Beach

Auckland Deaf community hold their annual picnic at Duders Beach, 1951.
Owen Gibbons
NZSL Stories
  • Pam Croskery
  • Doug Croskery
  • Richard Hay
Est. 1986
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society Table Tennis Club: Women’s Singles

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Terry Kane
1956
video – Taonga source: Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision

Auckland Carnival 1956

Friends of the Deaf prepare a float for the Auckland Carnival, 1956, along with some footage of the float parade.
Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision
1989
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: November 1989

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Terry Kane
  • John Mansell
  • Susie Ovens
  • Doug Croskery
  • Shona McGhie
  • Milton Reedy
2002
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Fishing Club, 2002

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Doug Croskery
  • Cecilia Waitohi
  • Richard Hay
  • Jonathan Anton
  • John Schischka
1990-00s
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Polo Shirt: Northern Deaf Golf Team – NZ Deaf Games

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Doug Croskery
  • Tony Walton
  • John Mansell
1989
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Bronze Medallists from Auckland Deaf Society: New Zealand Deaf Women’s Basketball Team

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Doug Croskery
  • Shirley Bregmen
  • Jeff Went
  • John Mansell
  • Susie Ovens
  • Tony Walton
1983
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Netball Club, Teams B and A, 1983

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Colleen Norris
1987
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Indoor Bowls Club, Easter 1987

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Colleen Norris
  • John Mansell
1980
article – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Watch out for the whistle

An Auckland-Manawatu netball game with a difference – all the players were deaf. Deaf people from all over New Zealand are participating in the 25th NZ deaf sports convention which began in Hamilton yesterday.
Manawatu Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Colleen Norris
  • Kevin Pivac
1960s
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Basketball Singlet: Auckland Deaf Society, 1960s

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Doug Croskery
Est. 1972
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society, Mayall Shield: Women’s Indoor Basketball – Married vs Single

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Doug Croskery
  • Shirley Bregmen