HomeCollectionRūaumoko Komiti – Turi Māori

Tihei mauri ora! Turi Māori are here! SignDNA is proud to present the Turi Māori collection of historic archival taonga. The majority of the Turi Māori collection was donated by the Rūaumoko Komiti, with invaluable footage of wānanga, hīkoi, and other important kōrero. There are also interviews with the late Patrick Thompson, Ivan Tamepo and Michael Wi. All te reo Māori content has captions added by SignDNA in order to make them more accessible. SignDNA looks forward to increasing our collection of Turi Māori archival taonga, please get in touch with us if you have any you would like to donate. Tēnā koutou.

  • Turi Māori
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2001
video – Taonga source: Rūaumoko Komiti

Māori Deaf Wānanga

Wānanga held in 2001, involving both Deaf and hearing Māori, focusing on NZSL skills, learning about community and culture as well as socialising and having fun.
Rūaumoko Komiti
1957
video – Taonga source: Susan Hamilton

Parent’s Day at Titirangi School for Deaf (1957)

Annual Parent’s Day at Titirangi School for Deaf, where students show their parents around the school and put on a performance – dancing, tītītōrea (short stick games) with end-of-year prizes.
Susan Hamilton
NZSL Stories
  • Patreena Bryan
  • John Mansell
1997
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

A kōrero with Riwia Fox, Māori NZSL interpreter

Riwia Fox, an interpreter is interviewed about her work as a trilingual interpreter. At that time, Riwia was one of only two qualified NZSL interpreters in New Zealand who are Māori, with the other being Stephanie Awheto.
Television New Zealand Archive
2004
video – Taonga source: Rūaumoko Komiti

Māori Deaf join foreshore hīkoi

Māori Deaf participating in a hīkoi (protest march) in support of Māori claims of ownership of the New Zealand foreshore and seabed.
Rūaumoko Komiti
2004
video – Taonga source: Rūaumoko Komiti

A Day in the Life of Rūaumoko Marae

Insight into the preparations that go into a powhiri onto Rūaumoko Marae, and rare footage of the powhiri itself, followed by an interview with Patrick Thompson.
Rūaumoko Komiti
1993
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: March 1993

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
2004
video – Taonga source: Rūaumoko Komiti

The Māori Deaf world: Interviews with Whiti Ronaki, Stephanie Awheto and Michael Wi

This raw, edited footage consists of interviews with Whiti Ronaki, Michael Wi and Stephanie Awheto - a trilingual interpreter, on topics relevant in the Māori Deaf world.
Rūaumoko Komiti
2014
video – Taonga source: Ministry of Education

Acknowledgements – Ko Wai Au? Who Am I? See My Voice?

An acknowledgement to all the team who helped make the Ko Wai Au? Who Am I? See My Voice? exhibition possible. Ko Wai Au is an exhibition empowering Māori rangatahi who identify as Deaf to communicate with others leading to a wider understanding of aspirations as young Deaf Māori.
Ministry of Education
1989-90
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Summer 1989/90 (Vol. 23, No. 4)

NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • John Hunt
  • Tony Walton
2005
video – Taonga source: AUT Visual Languages Section

Toa Anga Whati Māori

Māori TV's 'Toa Anga Whati Māori' profiles the Deaf Association of New Zealand on its weekly program, interviewing a series of Deaf people in sports (golf, touch rugby, rugby) before touching upon the job of a Deaf Awareness Officer who delivers training throughout New Zealand.
AUT Visual Languages Section
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
1999
video – Taonga source: Rūaumoko Komiti

Mai Time features NZSL!

Mai Time made one of their episodes accessible in NZSL to mark Deaf Awareness Week 1999. KDEC’s sign singing choir and Patrick Thompson made an appearance along with as did Rūaumoko Marae’s kapa haka roopu.
Rūaumoko Komiti
2001
article – Taonga source: Unknown

Loud and clear

The deaf community believes it has been misunderstood and misinterpreted for too long. Now it wants to be seen and heard as a group with its own cultural identity.
1995
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

Michael Wi, Māori Deaf

Michael Wi, is profiled on ‘Marae’, where he shares his experience of growing up as Māori Deaf in a paheka-centric education environment, and learning as an adult about tikanga Māori, and marae protocols.
Television New Zealand Archive
1990s
video – Taonga source: Hilda Tamepo

Deaf kaumatua celebrates 50 years of life at Auckland Deaf Society

The 50th birthday of Ivan Tamepo - a respected Deaf elder – is celebrated at ADS, with a karanga, powhiri, waitaia and celebrations in the back hall and upstairs clubroom.
Hilda Tamepo
1994
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: March 1994

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
1991
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

Māori Deaf and Deaf education

A look at the cultural education needs of Māori Deaf students. Māori Deaf are likely to experience more barriers in the education sector. Interviews undertaken by ‘Marae’ shows us that the multiple cultural identities of Māori Deaf are not completely accommodated for with aspirations on how to resolve this.
Television New Zealand Archive
2004
video – Taonga source: Rūaumoko Komiti

Being Māori Deaf: Interview with Patrick Thompson

Raw footage of an interview with Patrick Thompson attempting to connect with a Māori culture he was denied growing up. Patrick provides a voice for Māori Deaf, to grow understanding about the challenges they face, and to promote the importance of NZSL.
Rūaumoko Komiti
2022
article – Taonga source: The Northern Advocate

Northland marae set up te reo and deaf sign programmes to grow national languages

Twenty marae across Northland want to grow the number of whānau who can speak te reo Māori ... in sign language. An eight week course, He Aha, is about to get under way to help whānau improve communication with tangata turi.
The Northern Advocate
1979
video – Taonga source: Sue Penman

Trans-Tasman Deaf Games: Opening Ceremony and sports

Coverage of the Trans-Tasman Deaf Games, Lincoln College, Christchurch, 10 January 1979, including opening ceremony and various sports.
Sue Penman
1996
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

Patrick Thompson discusses upcoming wānanga for Māori Deaf

Patrick Thompson is interviewed on the ‘Marae’ programme, a bilingual Māori and English language current affairs show, about setting up a wānanga to enable Māori Deaf to access te reo Maori and Tikanga Maori.
Television New Zealand Archive
2002
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Pocket Patch: Māori / Pacific Deaf Rugby Invitational XV

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
1996
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

John Rua participates in a taiaha course

John Rua participates in an annual taiaha course and as a participant, he leads a pōwhiri, welcoming the visitors. ‘Te Karere’ visits the course to film John and find out more from his course instructors.
Television New Zealand Archive
1979
video – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Trans-Tasman Games hosted in Christchurch, 1979

Opening ceremony of the Trans-Tasman Games, Including a traditional Maori welcome for the Australian team.
Manawatu Deaf Society
1991
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

Two Deaf children sign a karakia

A karakia, the Lord’s Prayer, is given by two Deaf children using NZSL for the ‘Marae’ television series. This clip also contains Māori captions of the te reo Māori lyrics.
Television New Zealand Archive
2013
article – Taonga source: Kōkiri Magazine

Māori Deaf Gather

Last year on Queen’s Birthday weekend, Hamilton man Hemi Hema was honoured for his tireless work advocating for opportunities for Māori Deaf. This Queen’s Birthday weekend he was showing that his great work continues – facilitating a hui for Māori Deaf from throughout Aotearoa aimed at focusing on new beginnings for their community.
Kōkiri Magazine
1999
video – Taonga source: Rūaumoko Komiti

Deaf Association opens its new Auckland office

The Deaf Association of New Zealand opens its new offices on Great North Road, Avondale, Auckland in November 1999.
Rūaumoko Komiti
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
2017
article – Taonga source: Western Leader.

Milestone in deaf education

A multimillion dollar education centre is helping deaf students communicate. More than 400 people attended the opening of the Kelston Deaf Education Centre (KDEC) rebuild on February 28, 2017.
Western Leader.
1959
video – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Te Pakanga O Whau – The Battle of Whau: Drama by Kelston School for the Deaf

The Battle of Whau: a drama by Kelston Deaf students for the opening ceremony of Kelston School for the Deaf, 7th November 1959.
Auckland Deaf Society
2004
video – Taonga source: Rūaumoko Komiti

Patrick Thompson’s ‘Te Hēteri’ interview – unedited footage

Unedited footage of Patrick Thompson’s ‘Te Hēteri’ interview at the famed Star Sign Cafe on Auckland’s Dominion Road in 2004.
Rūaumoko Komiti
1995
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: September 1995

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Shona McGhie
  • John Mansell