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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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
2017
video – Taonga source: New Zealand Society of Translators and Interpreters

Te Tiriti o Waitangi in New Zealand Sign Language

This resource was created for the Treaty Times Thirty project, an initiative by the New Zealand Society of Translators and Interpreters to translate New Zealand’s founding document, Te Tiriti of Waitangi into 30 different languages.
New Zealand Society of Translators and Interpreters
1992
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: March 1992

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Susie Ovens
  • John Mansell
  • Shona McGhie
  • Patreena Bryan
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
2004
video – Taonga source: Rūaumoko Komiti

Connecting with Māori culture: an interview with Joanne Klaver

Raw footage of an interview with solo mother Joanne Klaver, attempting to connect with a Māori culture she was denied growing up, and one of her two sons, Charles, who is also Deaf.
Rūaumoko Komiti
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
1997
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

Hunga Turi: Māori Deaf have their first accessible stay on a marae

‘Te Karare’ was present to witness members of the Māori Deaf community have their first accessible stay on Kokohinau marae.
Television New Zealand Archive
1992
article – Taonga source: Western Leader

Marae for the deaf

A marae with a difference will open tomorrow in Kelston - it is for deaf children. Pupils of Kelston Deaf Education Centre will be able to learn more about Maori culture and marae protocol.
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
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
2004
video – Taonga source: Rūaumoko Komiti

The experiences of Māori Deaf

This segment from Māori TV’s Te Hēteri focuses on the experiences of Māori Deaf, catching up with Patrick Thompson, Whiti Ronaki, and Hemi Hema.
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
2000
video – Taonga source: Deaf Aotearoa

Deaf Association of New Zealand 2000

A look at the work of the New Zealand Association of the Deaf, presented by Judy Bailey.
Deaf Aotearoa
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
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
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
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
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.
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
1997
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: Autumn 1997

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
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
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
2002
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Pocket Patch: Māori / Pacific Deaf Rugby Invitational XV

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
1996
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: March 1996

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
Rūaumoko Marae
Rūaumoko Marae
Rūaumoko Marae
Est. 1992
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE

Rūaumoko Marae

Rūaumoko Marae has been part of Deaf Māori community for 30 years and is a central part of Deaf Māori community. It's a place where Deaf Māori can just be; they can connect and learn about te ao Māori.
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
1959
video – Taonga source: Susan Hamilton

Extended version: Te Pakanga o Whau performs at the opening ceremony of Kelston

The opening of Kelston on a site in Archibald Road featured the infamous ‘Te Pakanga o Whau’ (The Battle of Whau) in 1959 where 86 deaf students acted in an outside play featuring a Māori-Pakeha battle near a big gum tree field.
Susan Hamilton
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
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
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.
2002
video – Taonga source: Sara Pivac Alexander

International Postcard: New Zealand

DeafTV from Denmark makes a trip to New Zealand to feature the country and its Deaf community on its ‘International Postcard’ series, with scenes from a normal Friday night at the Deaf Club, a trip to the Deaf Association office. The Deaf Danish crew are also welcomed onto the Rūaumoko Marae.
Sara Pivac Alexander