HomeDeaf ClubsAuckland Deaf Society

Established in 1937, Auckland Deaf Society (ADS) is New Zealand’s largest (and second oldest) Deaf Club. Previously called the ‘Auckland Adult Deaf Society’ and the ‘Deaf Welfare Centre’, the club’s original home was at an old shop on 47 Parnell Road in Auckland, before moving to 164 Balmoral Road with enormous support from the ‘Friends of the Deaf’. Auckland Deaf Society is now located at 16 Hillsborough Road. The 43-minute long ‘My Second Home’ documentary takes you through the history of Auckland Deaf Society. Its Senior Citizens group has amassed a large number of films and donated them to SignDNA. They cover a wide range of events and activities, many of which continue today in one form or another. Objects were photographed in 2024. If you have more archival items relevant to Auckland Deaf Society, please get in touch.

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1960-80s
Object – Taonga source: John McRae

Auckland Deaf Society Life Member: John McRae’s pin and badge collection of national and international Deaf sport events

John McRae
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
  • Milton Reedy
  • Susie Ovens
  • John Hunt
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Terry Kane
1998
video – Taonga source: Abbie Twiss

Auckland Deaf Society hosts a Derby Race Night!

An action filled evening at ADS with a Deaf modelling show followed by an Auckland Deaf Drag Queen contest and finally a derby race competition!
Abbie Twiss
1982
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Sports Representatives, Winners of Oxspring Shield (Athletics), 1982

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Doug Croskery
  • Shona McGhie
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Terry Kane
  • Tony Walton
  • Milton Reedy
Late 2000s
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Souvenir Coaster: Auckland Deaf Society

Manawatu Deaf Society
1989
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: November 1989

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Doug Croskery
  • John Mansell
  • Terry Kane
  • Susie Ovens
  • Milton Reedy
  • Colleen Norris
  • Jeff Went
1989
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Bronze Medallists from Auckland Deaf Society: New Zealand Deaf Women’s Basketball Team

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Shirley Bregmen
  • Jeff Went
  • John Mansell
  • Tony Walton
  • Doug Croskery
  • Susie Ovens
1990
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: February 1990

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Terry Kane
  • Colleen Norris
  • Ruth Jessep
  • Doug Croskery
  • John Mansell
  • Jeff Went
1981
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Netball Club, Grade B, 1981

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Colleen Norris
1988
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Indoor Bowls Club, Easter 1988

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Colleen Norris
1964
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: March 1964

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Richard Hay
  • Pam Croskery
  • Doug Croskery
1980
article – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Watch out for the whistle

An Auckland-Manawatu netball game with a difference – all the players were deaf. Deaf people from all over New Zealand are participating in the 25th NZ deaf sports convention which began in Hamilton yesterday.
Manawatu Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Colleen Norris
  • Kevin Pivac
  • John Mansell
1979
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Sports Representatives, N.Z. Deaf Sport Convention 1979

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Colleen Norris
  • Shona McGhie
  • Terry Kane
  • Milton Reedy
  • John Mansell
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Doug Croskery
1973
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Sports Representatives, N.Z. Deaf Sports Convention, 1973

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • John Mansell
  • Doug Croskery
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Shona McGhie
  • Pam Croskery
  • Terry Kane
1969
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Waitemata Indoor Basketball Club, Senior ‘A’ Grade, 1969

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Doug Croskery
1984
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society Golf Club: Stableford

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Doug Croskery
  • John Mansell
1983
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Sports Representatives, N.Z. Deaf Sport Convention, Dunedin 1983

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Doug Croskery
  • John Mansell
  • Susie Ovens
  • Colleen Norris
  • Jeff Went
  • Shirley Bregmen
  • Milton Reedy
Est. 1960
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Deaf Welfare Centre Indoor Bowling Club: Drawn Pairs

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Colleen Norris
  • John Mansell
2016
video – Taonga source: Seek the World

Mingling with locals at Auckland Deaf Club

Two visitors from America (Seek the World and Motion Savvy) gives a short presentation at Auckland Deaf Society on a tablet app that understands sign language. Calvin Young gives a brief tour of the Deaf Club and chats with its President, John Schischka.
Seek the World
1972
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Ladies’ ADS Indoor Basketball Team, 1972

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Doug Croskery
  • Shirley Bregmen
1980s
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Jacket: Auckland Deaf Sports Convention

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
  • Kevin Pivac
  • John Mansell
2002
video – Taonga source: Sonia Pivac

In memory of Wallace Williams: A Deaf life!

A montage celebrating Wallace Williams’ life and his contribution to the Auckland Deaf community.
Sonia Pivac
NZSL Stories
  • Pam Croskery
2002
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Plaque: New Zealand Deaf Rugby – In Appreciation, Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
1986
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Summer 1986 (Vol. 22, No. 3)

NZSL Stories
  • Terry Kane
  • John Hunt
2009
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: October 2009

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Shirley Bregmen
  • Colleen Norris
  • John Schischka
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Cecilia Waitohi
  • Terry Kane
  • Doug Croskery
1964
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Deaf Demons Basketball Club, Winter 1964

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Doug Croskery
  • John Mansell
1981
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society, Winners of Bob Scott Memorial Shield (Badminton), 1981

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Shona McGhie
  • John Mansell
  • Tony Walton
  • Doug Croskery
  • Pam Croskery
1960
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Indoor Basketball, 1960

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Doug Croskery
  • John Mansell
1969
video – Taonga source: Janice and Gary Howard

Annual Auckland Picnic at Orewa, 1969

Members of the Auckland Deaf Society and friends attend the annual picnic at Orewa Beach in March 1969.
Janice and Gary Howard
NZSL Stories
  • Pam Croskery
  • Doug Croskery
  • Richard Hay
Est. 1996
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Men’s Team Interclub Touch Rugby: New Zealand Games for the Deaf

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
1969
article – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Sole N.Z. entrant for Deaf Games

Coventry was selected as a sole member of the New Zealand team to attend the July Deaf Olympics in Yugoslavia.
Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Milton Reedy
  • Terry Kane