HomePublicationsNZ Deaf News: 1971 (Vol. 8, No. 4)

NZ Deaf News: 1971 (Vol. 8, No. 4)

Some of the items featured in the 1971 Issue of ‘NZ Deaf News’ (Vol. 8, No. 4): 

  • There are 22 deaf children attending the Onekawa Primary School Deaf unit. The Hawkes Bay Parents of Deaf Children Association celebrates its five year anniversary.
  • Manawatu had a birthday social, with a particular game particularly popular – the candle blowing competition. Everyone had a go trying to blow out the candle and blow it out as many times as possible, using one matchstick! Max Howell won with 40 blows.
  • The first draft of the new constitution for amalgamation of the Friends of the Deaf and the Auckland Deaf Society has been prepared and is being studied by the sub-committee. 
  • Results from the 16th Annual Deaf Sports Convention in Christchurch, with more than 200 deaf people in attendance. Some had not seen the new clubrooms and were most impressed.
  • Deaf Organisations
  • TV/Media
NZSL story – Taonga source: John Mansell

Dressed to Represent at the NZ Deaf Sports Convention

John recalls how athletes travelling to Deaf Sports Conventions, such as the one in Christchurch in 1968, were required to dress formally, including wearing ties. Both athletes and supporters wore rosettes to show their club. These were removed during games but worn again afterward. On the final evening, swapping rosettes was a tradition. John still has a few at home.
NZSL story – Taonga source: John Hunt

Establishing the ‘NZ Deaf News’ in 1962

John Hunt's involvement with NZ Deaf News spanned 23 years. Upon moving to New Zealand in 1962, he was surprised to find out that there was no NZ Deaf News at a time where radio and TV (which was inaccessible for Deaf people) were one of the main medium of news. He established the NZ Deaf News publication with a group of 10 people. The first issue was only 8 pages and with donations, the next one was 16 pages. It grew exponentially and was the place to go for Deaf-related news.
NZSL story – Taonga source: Kevin Pivac

A Sleepless Train Ride to and from Wellington for the Sports Convention

In 1972, Kevin played basketball for the Auckland Deaf Society at the Deaf Sports Convention in Wellington, where the team took home the Cunniffe Cup. The Auckland group travelled by overnight train, with one carriage packed full of Deaf people. Sleep was scarce with constant chatting and playing with the lights. Alcohol was banned on trains at the time, but on the return trip on Monday night, a friend met them at Paekākāriki and dropped off a crate, which they secretly brought into the carriage!
Taonga source:
New Zealand Deaf News
Reference number:
SignDNA – Deaf National Archive New Zealand, DN1971-8-4-MJN
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