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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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.
1980
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: September 1980 (Vol. 3, No. 3)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
2015
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2015 (Vol. 37, No. 4)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
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
1979
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: June 1979 (Vol. 2, No. 2)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1994
article – Taonga source: Unknown

250 attend school’s jubilee celebrations

Three first-year pupils and three sets of twins numbered among the 250 or so former pupils, teachers, family and friends who attended the St Dominics School for the Deaf 50th jubilee over Anzac Weekend.
1968
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

1979
Images – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Team Photo: St. Dominic’s O.B. Basketball Deaf Club, 1979

Manawatu Deaf Society
1970
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: 1970 (Vol. 7, No. 4)

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

Ephpheta: September 1987 (Vol. 10, No. 2)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1954
article – Taonga source: Unknown

NEW ST. DOMINIC’S SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF OPENING IN FEILDING: Over 3000 Attended Ceremony Yesterday

Over 3000 people flocked to St. Dominic's School for the Deaf yesterday afternoon to hear the Catholic Prelate, His Grace Archbishop P.T.B. McKeefry, bless the new building and officially open it.
1992
article – Taonga source: Unknown

New ideas from London course on teaching

Rebecca was recently chosen, aong with seven other deaf New Zealanders, to attend a two-week training course in London to learn the basic concepts of teaching sign language.
2011
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2011 (Vol. 33, No. 4)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1954
article – Taonga source: Unknown

Additions To School For The Deaf: Opened At Fielding By Archbishop McKeefry

A great step forward in what is a unique work of Christian charity and education in New Zealand was taken last Sunday, November 28, with its opening. The additions to the school consist of a splendid new block providing classrooms and dormitories.
1954
article – Taonga source: Unknown

SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF NEW INSTITUTION: PROVISION FOR 54 CHILDREN

Deaf children from all parts of New Zealand are gradually overcoming their affliction at St. Dominic's School for the Deaf, situated at Aorangi, near Feilding.
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.
1954
article – Taonga source: Unknown

School For The Deaf Is £68,000 Addition To Catholic Charities

The new St. Dominic's School for deaf children, which is set in spacious 23-acre grounds and can accommodate between 40 and 50 children, is the only institution for deaf children in New Zealand not operated by the State.
1960s
video – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

St Dominics Gala

St Dominics School for the Deaf hold their annual Gala Day – year unknown.
Manawatu Deaf Society
2013
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2013 (Vol. 35, No. 4)

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

Making the Deaf Hear and the Dumb Speak: The Splendid Work of St. Dominic’s School, Wellington.

Two years ago, the New Zealand Dominicians opened a Catholic school for deaf children at 15 Dover Street, Island Bay, Wellington. The article records the impressions of a Wellington journalist who visited the school recently.
1978
video – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

People like us – ‘Deaf Education and Technology’

A look into the world of Deaf people, in particular a glimpse into Deaf education at the time, and how technology improves the lives of Deaf people, with Daniel Beech demonstrating the use of a TTY.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1994
video – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

1944 – 1994: St Dominic’s celebrates its Golden Jubilee!

Around 250 people attended the 50th Jubilee, commemorating 50 years of St Dominic’s School for the Deaf. Footage shows many old photo albums, reunion photos being taken, a Jubilee Mass and a visit to the old Dover Street school grounds.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1946
article – Taonga source: Unknown

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.
1944
article – Taonga source: Unknown

FOR DEAF & DUMB, CATHOLIC SCHOOL, TUITON BY DOMINICANS

In spite of wet weather, there was a large attendance of Catholic clergy and public at the blessing and opening of St. Dominic's School for the Deaf and Dumb, at Dover Street, Island Bay, yesterday afternoon. This school, conducted by the Sisters of St. Dominic, is the first Catholic School for the education of deaf-mutes to be established in New Zealand.
1965
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

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

Ephpheta: Easter 1985 (Vol. 8, No. 1)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1972
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: 1972 (Vol. 9, No. 4)

2009
article – Taonga source: Palmerston North Diocesan News

We See What You Mean – St Dominic’s past in print

A history of St Dominic's School for the Deaf was launched in March in Feilding and Auckland. 'We See What You Mean' has been the culmination of many years' work by author Dorothy Pilkington and the school's History Society Committee.
2017
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2017 (Vol. 39, No. 2)

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