HomeCollectionSt Dominic’s School for Deaf Children

We are all aware of the immense value St Dominic’s has contributed to the New Zealand Deaf education sector. St Dominic’s School for the Deaf opened in 1944 to provide a Catholic based education to deaf children, and ran for 45 years before closing in May 1989. SignDNA is thrilled that the St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre in Palmerston North has donated their full collection of St Dominic’s video footage to SignDNA, along with hundreds of documents and photos. Thanks to the Catholic Deaf leadership and David Loving-Molloy for their support.

  • Deaf Education
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1950
article – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Dominic’s School Impresses Experts On Training Of Deaf

"This is the first time we have ever seen deaf children dance to a gramophone" said Dr. Irene Ewing delightedly when with her husband, Dr. A.Ewing, she visited St Dominic's School for the Deaf at Island Bay, Wellington.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1968
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Winter 1968 (Vol. 5, No. 4)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
  • John Mansell
2012
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2012 (Vol. 34, No. 3)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1985
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: September 1985 (Vol. 8, No. 2)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
2007
article – Taonga source: Unknown

Deaf chaplain dies before move home

Danny Beech, a long-time leader of New Zealand's deaf community, both Catholic and secular, has died.
2011
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2011 (Vol. 33, No. 1)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
2011
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2011 (Vol. 33, No. 3)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
1981
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: September 1981 (Vol. 4, No. 3)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
NZSL Stories
  • Milton Reedy
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
1969
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: 1969 (Vol. 6, No. 3)

2017
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2017 (Vol. 39, No. 3)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
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
1987
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: December 1987 (Vol. 10, No. 3)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1946
article – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Teaching The Deaf To Speak

Margaret is one of some 21 kiddies, aged from five to seven years, who for the most part born deaf, are receiving special instruction at St. Dominic's School for the Deaf at Island Bay, Wellington, the first Catholic institution of its kind to be established in the Dominion.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1987
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: December 1986 (Vol. 9, No. 3)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
NZSL Stories
  • Ruth Jessep
1978
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Catholic Deaf Newsletter: April 1978 (Vol. 1, No. 1)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1969
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: 1969 (Vol. 6, No. 2)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
1987
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: June 1987 (Vol. 10, No. 1)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1965
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Winter 1965 (Vol. 2, No. 4)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
1987
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

Parents speak of their fears for the future of St Dominic’s School for Deaf Children

Following the potential closure of St Dominic's, parents express their concerns at a community meeting for their deaf children’s future if they were to be mainstreamed into a local school.
Television New Zealand Archive
2016
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2016 (Vol. 38, No. 3)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1944
article – Taonga source: NZ Tablet

Catholic Education For Deaf-Mute Children

The story of Catholic Deaf-Mute education, what has been done for deaf students by Dominican Nuns, and the new St. Dominic’s School for Deaf Children in Wellington.
1965
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Spring 1965 (Vol. 3, No. 1)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
1994
video – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Pilgrimage to the original St Dominic’s Wellington school

A group of past pupils visit the original Dover Street location in Island Bay, Wellington, as part of the Golden Jubilee of the founding of St Dominic’s School for the Deaf.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
2016
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2016 (Vol. 38, No. 4)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
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
1967
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

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

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

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
  • Kevin Pivac
2014
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2014 (Vol. 36, No. 3)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
2012
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2012 (Vol. 34, No. 1)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1989
video – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Last Reunion on St Dominic’s Feilding Grounds

The four-day festivities at St Dominic’s School for the Deaf during New Year’s 1989/1990 were a weekend full of activities! It was the last such event on the St Dominic’s Feilding grounds with a deaf unit set-up at St Joseph’s School in Feilding in May 1989.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre