
1953
article – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Deaf Institute To Be Started In Auckland Soon
The Friends of the Deaf has paid £3000 for a three-quarter acre site at 166 Balmoral Road and in the new year it will begin to erect there the first permanent institute for deaf adults in New Zealand.


1951
video – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Travelling to Wellington for NZ Deaf Sports Convention, 1951
A group of Auckland Deaf travel to and from Wellington for the New Zealand Deaf Sports Convention during Labour Weekend, 1951.


1959
video – Taonga source: Susan Hamilton
Sports Day at Kelston School for the Deaf
The School for Deaf annual sports day is held at Kelston with athletics, long jumping, relay races and performances.

NZSL Stories

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


Est. 1959
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Deaf Welfare Centre Indoor Bowling Club: Graded Pairs


1951
video – Taonga source: Owen Gibbons
Christchurch Deaf men with (and on) their bicycles
Black and white footage of a group of Christchurch Deaf men with their bicycles chatting to the camera excitedly before riding on the road, and signing at the same time!


1951
video – Taonga source: Owen Gibbons
Day trip to Helensville Hot Pools
A group of Deaf people make a trip to the Helensville Hot Pools 1951.


Est. 1959
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Deaf Welfare Centre Indoor Bowling Club: Graded Fours


1959
video – Taonga source: Susan Hamilton
Extended version: Te Pakanga o Whau performs at the opening ceremony of Kelston
The opening of Kelston on a site in Archibald Road featured the infamous ‘Te Pakanga o Whau’ (The Battle of Whau) in 1959 where 86 deaf students acted in an outside play featuring a Māori-Pakeha battle near a big gum tree field.


1959
video – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Te Pakanga O Whau – The Battle of Whau: Drama by Kelston School for the Deaf
The Battle of Whau: a drama by Kelston Deaf students for the opening ceremony of Kelston School for the Deaf, 7th November 1959.


Est. 1942
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Auckland Deaf Club Indoor Bowls: Annual Competition


1959
video – Taonga source: Susan Hamilton
Parent’s Day at Kelston School for the Deaf (1959)
Annual Parent’s Day at Kelston School for the Deaf, with rides (horses, fire tank and alike!), performances and end-of-year prizes.


1955
video – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Sports Convention picnic at Motukarara, 1955
During the 1955 Sports Convention hosted in Christchurch, a picnic is held at Motukarara, by Lake Ellesmere in Canterbury.


1956
video – Taonga source: Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision
Auckland Carnival 1956
Friends of the Deaf prepare a float for the Auckland Carnival, 1956, along with some footage of the float parade.


1955
video – Taonga source: Archives New Zealand
National Film Unit visits Sumner School for the Deaf – 75th Jubilee
The National Film Unit visits Sumner School for the Deaf to report on progress in the education of deaf children and to check out the school's 75th Jubilee celebrations.


1955
video – Taonga source: Susan Hamilton
Annual Sports Day at Mt Wellington
Annual school sports day at the large grounds at Mt Wellington, with the school surrounded by farmland. The Titirangi children travelled to Mt Wellington by buses. Mt Wellington closed once the Kelston hostel block opened in 1960.

NZSL Stories

1950-80s
Object – Taonga source: Pam Witko
Collection of Max Howell’s Wellington Deaf Society Indoor Bowls badges and pins


1960-70s
Object – Taonga source: Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT)
Prefect Badge: School for Deaf, Kelston


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




Est. 1937
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE
Auckland 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.

1952
video – Taonga source: Susan Hamilton
Day trip to the Parnell Baths
Students at Titirangi School for the Deaf are treated to a day trip to the Parnell Baths.

NZSL Stories

Est. 1938
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Auckland Deaf Adult Society Challenge Cup: Table Tennis


Est. 1940
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Auckland Deaf Club Ladies Table Tennis


1964
article – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Deaf Folk Conquer their Handicap
On a recent Saturday, I was lucky enough to meet members of the Auckland Deaf Society at a working bee they were holding to improve the grounds of the city's Deaf Welfare Centre. The centre, incidentially, is a very fine building – it has the biggest sports hall in Auckland with a floor area 110 by 60 feet.

NZSL Stories

1952
video – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Arriving for the Deaf Sports Convention in Auckland 1952
Members of the Auckland Deaf community welcome friends and competitors from nationwide for the annual Deaf Sports Convention in Auckland 1952, and take a trip into Auckland City.


1951
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Team Photo: Auckland Adult Deaf Society Indoor Basketball, 1951


1957
article – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
10 Deaf Debutantes at a Ball
For the first time in the history of New Zealand, ten deaf debutantes were presented at a ball last night. The guests of honour were Mr D. Nathan, president of the Friends of the Deaf, Mr C. Allen, principal of the School for the Deaf at Titangi, and Mr W. Williams, president of the Auckland Adult Deaf Society.


1955
video – Taonga source: Susan Hamilton
School for the Deaf pupils visit Auckland Zoo
Deaf pupils visit Auckland Zoo and enjoy group rides on an elephant at the zoo.

NZSL Stories

1957
article – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Ten debutantes curtsy at ball for Deaf Society
There were differences in the presentation of 10 debutantes to the Mayor, Mr Ashby and Mrs Ashby in the Farmers' Trading Company's banquet hall last night. Because each of the debutantes were deaf, small changes in procedures had been arranged. The ball was organised by the Adult Deaf Society.


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!
