HomeCollectionDeaf Picnics

Everyone loves a good picnic, especially if you’re Deaf and the picnic is organised by your local Deaf Club! Over the years Deaf Club picnics have become a traditional event reaching back to the 1950s. They are a chance for the community to get together in the fresh outdoors, get too much sun, and see if the married or single teams win the tug-o-war! And yes, if you win the sprint you still get a little brown envelope and a line in Deaf history forever.

  • Deaf Clubs
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1985
video – Taonga source: Deaf Society of Canterbury

Christchurch Deaf Club picnic at Amberley: Summer 1985

Christchurch Deaf Club hosted its annual picnic at Amberley, north of Christchurch. As usual, there are games aplenty, with the Amberley swimming pool a perfect location to cool off.
Deaf Society of Canterbury
1968
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Autumn 1968 (Vol. 5, No. 3)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
1960s
video – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Picnic at Orewa Beach

Deaf people get together at John and Verna McRae’s place before heading to Orewa, Auckland for the Annual ADS Picnic.
Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Pam Croskery
  • Richard Hay
  • Doug Croskery
2010
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: February 2010

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Michelle Kruger
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Shirley Bregmen
  • Pam Croskery
  • Richard Hay
  • Cecilia Waitohi
  • John Schischka
1968
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Summer 1968 (Vol. 5, No. 2)

NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • John Hunt
1956
video – Taonga source: Susan Hamilton

Picnic by the Parau Camp House

Titirangi students and their families picnic at the Parau Camp House in West Auckland. The property was purchased in 1955 and groups of children, teachers and parents spent many a happy weekend here.
Susan Hamilton
NZSL Stories
  • Patreena Bryan
Est. 1964
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society McHattie Trophy: Tug-Of-War, Married vs Single

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Richard Hay
  • Pam Croskery
  • Doug Croskery
1984
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: June 1984 (Vol. 21, No. 2)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
  • Tony Walton
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
1973
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: 1973 (Vol. 10, No. 1)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
  • Pam Croskery
  • Doug Croskery
  • Richard Hay
1955
video – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Sports Convention picnic at Motukarara, 1955

During the 1955 Sports Convention hosted in Christchurch, a picnic is held at Motukarara, by Lake Ellesmere in Canterbury.
Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Tony Walton
  • John Mansell
  • Shona McGhie
1969
video – Taonga source: Janice and Gary Howard

Annual Auckland Picnic at Orewa, 1969

Members of the Auckland Deaf Society and friends attend the annual picnic at Orewa Beach in March 1969.
Janice and Gary Howard
NZSL Stories
  • Pam Croskery
  • Doug Croskery
  • Richard Hay
1968
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: 1968 (Vol. 6, No. 1)

NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • John Mansell
  • John Hunt
Est. 1964
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society Annual Picnic: Allen Trophy – Run Race, Oliver Trophy – Step Distance, McHattie Trophy – Tug-of-War

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Richard Hay
  • Pam Croskery
  • Doug Croskery
Est. 1964
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society Annual Picnic: Handicap Race – Allen Trophy

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Pam Croskery
  • Richard Hay
  • Doug Croskery
1951
video – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Travelling to Wellington for NZ Deaf Sports Convention, 1951

A group of Auckland Deaf travel to and from Wellington for the New Zealand Deaf Sports Convention during Labour Weekend, 1951.
Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • John Mansell
1976
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: March 1976 (Vol. 13, No. 4)

NZSL Stories
  • Colleen Norris
  • Richard Hay
  • Pam Croskery
  • John Hunt
  • Doug Croskery
  • John Mansell
1958
video – Taonga source: Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision

Deaf Societies Sports Convention, Wellington 1958

Deaf Aucklanders make their way down to Wellington in a van for the Labour Weekend sports. Stopping on the way, they prepare for a day of sports and socialising.
Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Shona McGhie
  • John Mansell
  • Tony Walton
1952
video – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Annual Picnic at Orewa Beach 1952

Auckland Deaf Adult Society’s annual picnic takes place north of Orewa beach.
Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Richard Hay
  • Doug Croskery
  • Pam Croskery
1989
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: March 1989

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Pam Croskery
  • Colleen Norris
  • Terry Kane
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Doug Croskery
  • Tony Walton
  • Richard Hay
1972
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: 1972 (Vol. 9, No. 1)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
1965
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Autumn 1965 (Vol. 2, No. 3)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
2008
video – Taonga source: Brent Macpherson

My Second Home: Auckland Deaf Society

A 43-minute documentary taking you through the history of Auckland Deaf Society, the second home of the Deaf community of Auckland.
Brent Macpherson
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Pam Croskery
  • Richard Hay
  • John Hunt
  • Doug Croskery
1964
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: March 1964

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Richard Hay
  • Pam Croskery
  • Doug Croskery
1956
video – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Sports Convention: Trip to Motuihe Domain

During the Sports Convention, Deaf people travel to Motuihe Domain, on Motuihe Island in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf, for a picnic.
Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Shona McGhie
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Tony Walton
Est. 1964
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society Annual Picnic: Oliver Trophy – Step Distance

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Doug Croskery
  • Richard Hay
  • Pam Croskery
1970
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: 1970 (Vol. 7, No. 2)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
1980
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: May 1980 (Vol. 17, No. 4)

NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • John Hunt
Est. 1955
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

75th Jubilee Memorial Shield: Tug-of-War between New Zealand Deaf Societies

Wellington Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Kevin Pivac
1964
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Autumn 1964 (Vol. 1, No. 3)

NZSL Stories
  • Doug Croskery
  • Richard Hay
  • John Hunt
  • Pam Croskery
  • John Mansell
1985
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Autumn 1985 (Vol. 22, No. 1)

NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Terry Kane
  • Susie Ovens
  • Jonathan Anton
  • John Hunt
  • Tony Walton
  • Pam Croskery