Colleen, formerly Cary, talks about her wedding to Norman Norris at Ruawai. At the time there were no interpreters, but her uncle, a Minister, led the ceremony. He spent many hours preparing, including discussions with Dr Dale from the School for the Deaf. The service was adapted for lipreading. The church still stands today. Although people said it was the first Deaf wedding in the North, Jean Pearce later said she had also married in the region before.
Colleen’s Wedding at Ruawai: A Deaf Ceremony in the North
2025 •
- Other
Colleen, formerly Cary, talks about her wedding to Norman Norris at Ruawai. At the time there were no interpreters, but her uncle, a Minister, led the ceremony. He spent many hours preparing, including discussions with Dr Dale from the School for the Deaf. The service was adapted for lipreading. The church still stands today. Although people said it was the first Deaf wedding in the North, Jean Pearce later said she had also married in the region before.
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Taonga source:
Colleen Norris
Reference number:
SignDNA – Deaf National Archive New Zealand, CNADS-05-STO25
Copyright status:
This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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1964
article – Taonga source: Colleen Norris
Special service as deaf marry
Two totally deaf people were married in the Ruawai Methodist Church on Saturday in a service specially modified for the deaf. Mr Moore had spent many hours modifying the service and consulting with the principal of the School for the Deaf, Dr D. Dale.
NZSL Stories
1964
article – Taonga source: Colleen Norris
Deaf Couple Marry
The bride and groom and three other members of the wedding party were deaf and 30 of the guests had also attended the School for Deaf at Titirangi, where the bridge and groom met. Mr Moore says that although a wedding of a deaf couple was not unusual in Auckland, he thinks it is the first time such a ceremony has taken place in Northland.
NZSL Stories
1964
article – Taonga source: Colleen Norris
Deaf Couple Married At Ruawai
Deaf Bridal Couple – Mr and Mrs N.G. Norris after their marriage in the Ruawai Methodist Church. Both are totally deaf.
NZSL Stories