In 1996, Lynette Pivac was awarded the M.B.E. (Member of British Empire) for her services in Deaf education and sign language. Her two Deaf daughters inspired her to advocate for Deaf people's linguistic rights to access education for over twenty years. Lynette has taught sign language since 1983, both in Australia and New Zealand. She was the first language assistant at the newly established NZSL interpreting programme at the Auckland Institute of Technology from July 1992 to December 1993. She mostly initiated the development of NZSL resources, the training of NZSL tutors and involvement in NZSL teaching issues at national level. Lynette became fully involved on the Kelston Deaf Education Centre's Board of Trustees since the introduction of Tomorrow Schools, a new parental board body in 1989. She advocated for NZSL and Deaf Studies to be introduced into Deaf education and became the first Deaf Board of Trustees Chairperson from 1992 to 1994. After many years of voluntary work with various Deaf organisations, Lynette began her full-time job as a Deaf Resource Co-ordinator from 1994 to 1999. Her main role was educating staff, educators, parents and students about Deaf awareness as well as representing Deaf people in the DEAF Forum, for the national Deaf educational organisations. Lynette had organised many workshops and conferences including the first and only New Zealand Deaf Festival in 1995.
The Auckland Deaf Society Netball team celebrates their 25th Jubilee in April, 2000.
Inside Out produces a programme about New Zealand Sign Language, its value to the Deaf community as well as its artistic forms.
Footage and interviews from the opening night of the newly redeveloped Auckland Deaf Society clubrooms late August 2007.
'Strangers' was a TVNZ-produced drama series, including one Deaf character played by 7-year-old Sonia Pivac. This short documentary is a brief look behind the scenes of the filming process.
The first NZSL interpreting course has recently started in Auckland, being led by Drs. David and Rachel McKee. We take a peek at one of their NZSL classes, and Rachel predicts the areas of work graduates will go into.
Deaf children are taught drama skills by two Deaf visitors from the UK, in preparation for their show at the opening night of the inaugural Deaf Festival, hosted by Kelston Deaf Education Centre.
Tangata Pasifika visits Kelston Deaf Education Centre and meets with a number of Pasifika Deaf students part of the school’s transition programme, interviewing Rosie Amituanai and her family.
A montage celebrating Wallace Williams’ life and his contribution to the Auckland Deaf community.
A farewell party is thrown for John and Laura Hunt at the Auckland Deaf Society, prior to their move to Melbourne. The farewell was attended by over 100 members of the Auckland Deaf community.
'See What I Mean' presents two real-life stories: the story of a family who were all born Deaf, and a journalist who loses her hearing. It offers positive advice about hearing loss as well as celebrating the New Zealand Deaf community.
In the early 1990s, due to a breakthrough in technology, cochlear implants were starting to become the norm. The Deaf community worldwide viewed cochlear implants as a device that disregarded the need for access to sign language. Others considered such devices a miracle. In 1993, ‘60 Minutes’ investigated this controversial topic in New Zealand.
A NZSL narrated video taking viewers through the history of Auckland Schools for the Deaf, from Newton East, Myers Park, Titirangi, Mt Wellington and finally, Kelston.