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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1955-65
video – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

A montage of St Dominic’s Christmas Picnics between 1955 and 1965

Footage from 1955 – 1965 during the annual Christmas Picnics held by St Dominic’s School for the Deaf in Island Bay. In New Zealand fashion, Santa arrives on horseback, bringing presents to the pupils who all take turns riding the horse!
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
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
  • Pam Croskery
  • Richard Hay
  • Doug Croskery
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
2010
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: February 2010

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Pam Croskery
  • Richard Hay
  • Doug Croskery
  • Terry Kane
  • Shirley Bregmen
  • John Schischka
1990
video – Taonga source: Richard Hay

Annual Picnic at Long Bay 1990

Auckland Deaf Society’s annual picnic at Long Bay where members compete in the 100m sprint (and fake starts!) and the boys show off their bodybuilding moves.
Richard Hay
NZSL Stories
  • Pam Croskery
  • Doug Croskery
  • Richard Hay
1965
video – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

St Dominic’s gives a Catholic education to Deaf boys and girls

Several clips of teaching and classroom scenes at St Dominic’s School for the Deaf, with one-on-one speech therapy, oral communication methods, a physical education class, the Rotarians Picnic Drive, playing with jet aeroplanes, folk dancing and their annual Christmas party.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1977
video – Taonga source: Sue Penman

‘Deaf boys’ picnic at Spencer Park

Christchurch Deaf Club Basketball ‘Deaf Boys’ Picnic at Spencer Park, Sunday 13th March 1977.
Sue Penman
1970
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
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
1968
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • John Hunt
  • John Mansell
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
  • Richard Hay
  • Doug Croskery
  • Pam Croskery
1967
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Autumn 1967 (Vol. 4, No. 3)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
2009
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: April 2009

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Cecilia Waitohi
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Colleen Norris
  • Richard Hay
  • Doug Croskery
  • Pam Croskery
  • Kevin Pivac
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
1979
video – Taonga source: Dennis Tod

Christchurch Deaf Club picnic at Diamond Harbour 1979

The Christchurch Deaf Club members have a picnic at Diamond Harbour, with traditional sports and activities.
Dennis Tod
Est. 1964
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

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

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

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: March 1964

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Doug Croskery
  • Richard Hay
  • Pam Croskery
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
  • Doug Croskery
  • Pam Croskery
  • Richard Hay
1968
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

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

Auckland Deaf Society Annual Picnic: Oliver Trophy – Step Distance

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

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

NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • John Hunt
  • Susie Ovens
  • Tony Walton
1976
video – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Understand the Silence: A Silent Documentary about the Silent World of Deafness

This documentary was filmed and edited by Joan Bailey and released in 1976. It covers the preparation and running of the St Dominics Gala Day, as well as Manawatu Deaf Club picnics, and the Manawatu Womens Group.
Manawatu Deaf Society
1991
video – Taonga source: Rodney Roberts

Good old fashioned fun at the Christchurch Deaf Society’s picnic

Footage of the 1991 Christchurch Deaf Society's picnic day held at Spencer Park. On a progressively windy day the local Deaf community gathered to enjoy traditional Deaf community games including tug-of-war, egg throwing, welly throwing, and some less common games such as a dress-up relay.
Rodney Roberts
1972
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
1968
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
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
  • Pam Croskery
  • Doug Croskery
1955
video – Taonga source: Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision

Picnic at Waihora Park Domain

Participants in the Annual Convention of the New Zealand Deaf Societies have a full-day picnic at Waihora Park Domain, in Motukarara with plenty of races!
Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
  • Kevin Pivac
1952
video – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Deaf Day Trip to Orewa!

During one of the first New Zealand Deaf Sports Convention in Auckland 1952, a group of Deaf take a day trip to Orewa.
Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Pam Croskery
  • Richard Hay
  • Doug Croskery
  • Kevin Pivac
  • John Mansell