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
1972
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
1966
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Autumn 1966 (Vol. 3, No. 3)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
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
  • John Hunt
  • Tony Walton
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
  • John Mansell
  • Kevin Pivac
1976
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

NZSL Stories
  • Pam Croskery
  • John Mansell
  • Colleen Norris
  • John Hunt
  • Richard Hay
  • Doug Croskery
1956
video – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Adult Deaf Picnic: Trip to Motuihe Domain

Deaf adults enjoying ice cream, beer, and bathing suits, all while watching HMNZ Tamaki navy recruits training on Motuihe Island.
Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Pam Croskery
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Doug Croskery
  • Richard Hay
1973
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

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

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

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
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
  • Tony Walton
  • John Mansell
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Shona McGhie
2010
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: February 2010

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Richard Hay
  • Doug Croskery
  • John Schischka
  • Michelle Kruger
  • Cecilia Waitohi
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Shirley Bregmen
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
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Doug Croskery
  • Pam Croskery
  • Richard Hay
  • John Mansell
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
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
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
1989
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: March 1989

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Terry Kane
  • Pam Croskery
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Doug Croskery
  • John Mansell
  • Richard Hay
1968
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

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

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

NZSL Stories
  • Terry Kane
  • Pam Croskery
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
  • Susie Ovens
  • John Hunt
  • Jonathan Anton
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
  • Richard Hay
  • 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
Est. 1964
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society Annual Picnic: Oliver Trophy – Step Distance

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Pam Croskery
  • Richard Hay
  • Doug Croskery
1966-67
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Summer 1966-67 (Vol. 4, No. 2)

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
  • Pam Croskery
  • Richard Hay
  • Doug 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
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
  • Doug Croskery
  • Pam Croskery
  • Richard Hay