2023
NZSL story – Taonga source: Patreena Bryan
Titirangi School for the Deaf: Going home for the holidays
Patreena Bryan, an ex-Titirangi School for the Deaf student reminisces when students would be going home for the holidays, and how they'd all wake up at 5am in excitement for the day (and holidays) ahead!
Est. 1980
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society
Wellington Deaf Society’s Most Popular Member of the Year
2022
video – Taonga source: Māori Television
Deaf filmmaker aspires to make TV series in sign language
A turi (deaf) filmmaker hopes to create a TV series entirely in NZSL to showcase the language to the world. Jared Flitcroft (Ngāti Maniapoto) enjoys telling stories from all kinds of people and perspectives but says stories from the Māori deaf community are imperative.
2024
Object – Taonga source: Hawkes Bay Deaf Club
Souvenir Coaster: Hawkes Bay Deaf Club’s 60th Anniversary
2022
article – Taonga source: The Northern Advocate
Northland marae set up te reo and deaf sign programmes to grow national languages
Twenty marae across Northland want to grow the number of whānau who can speak te reo Māori ... in sign language. An eight week course, He Aha, is about to get under way to help whānau improve communication with tangata turi.
Est. 2010
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society
Manawatu Deaf Fishing Trips: Funny Story
2022
article – Taonga source: The Northern Advocate
Te Wiki o te Reo Māori – Māori Language Week: Deaf Northlander Eddie Hokianga
Deaf Northlander Eddie Hokianga was on a troubled trajectory in life until he got his hands on te reo and connected with his Māori culture. Hokianga (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Porou) and Kim Robinson of Deaf Action New Zealand are delivering a groundbreaking initiative in the form of an eight-week course to be held, ideally, across 20 Northland marae.
Est. 1994
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society
Manawatu Deaf Society Social Club: Skeet Clay Shooting – Interclub
2023
article – Taonga source: Stuff
Meredith Karim can listen and speak, but she thinks in sign language
Meredith Karim was just five months old when she started using NZSL to communicate. She was born a hearing child to deaf parents, often known by the acronym CODA. She says while most people have a voice talking in their heads expressing their thoughts, she visualises hers in NZSL.
2022
article – Taonga source: Stuff
Deaf community to be consulted on NZSL Act but advocate fears they will be ignored
The first NZSL-led consultation to amend current legislation has opened, but advocates fear their advice will be ignored.
Est. 1990
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society
Manawatu Deaf Social Club: Men’s Doubles – Pool
Est. 2011
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society
Wellington Deaf Society Poker Championship
2021
article – Taonga source: Nelson Mail.
Face masks creating anxiety and stress in the Deaf community
Stress and anxiety is bubbling in the Deaf community as it struggles to communicate with the public through face masks. They were “struggling” at the supermarket because they relied on lipreading to communicate. “Masks are creating a bit of a problem."
2022
NZSL story – Taonga source: Janet Watt
Teaching sign language in preparation for the Christchurch 1989 World Deaf Games
Once New Zealand was awarded the host of the XVIth World Deaf Games at Los Angeles 1985, there was a realisation that sign language classes needed to commence in preparation for Christchurch 1989.
Est. 1937
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE
Auckland Deaf Society
Established in 1937, Auckland Deaf Society (ADS) is New Zealand’s largest Deaf Club. The club’s original home was at an old shop on 47 Parnell Road in Auckland, before moving to 164 Balmoral Road. ADS is now located at 16 Hillsborough Road. 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.
2021
article – Taonga source: Stuff
Treated like a criminal’: Deaf traveller’s ‘terrible experience’ returning to New Zealand
A Deaf woman is calling for airlines and airports to better equip staff to communicate with Deaf and Hard of Hearing travellers after a “terrible experience” returning to New Zealand from Rarotonga that made her feel she was being “treated like a criminal”.
2023
article – Taonga source: NZ Herald.
Whaikaha the first ministry with a name in all of NZ’s official languages
Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People has become the first and only government ministry with a name in all three of New Zealand’s official languages.
2023
article – Taonga source: Woman’s Day
Erica Dawson’s sign language battle ‘We’re nothing to be afraid of’
"There's still a lot of barriers for deaf people in this country," says Erica, who lost her hearing when she was six months old. "We face all sorts of challenges that hearing people take for granted, such as finding interpreters to help us with schoolwork or meetings at work."
2023
article – Taonga source: Stuff
What it’s like doing the Oxfam Trailwalker when you’re Deaf
The first time Monica Leach took part in the Oxfam Trailerwalker was with a group of hearing friends. Leach, who is Deaf and uses NZSL, found it difficult to communicate with the team. But last weekend, her team Deaf Power Walk completed it in Taranaki as an all-Deaf team.
1990s
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society
Wall Mounted Honour Board at Manawatu Deaf Society, in Memorial of Joan Caroline Bailey
2021
article – Taonga source: The Northern Advocate
Deaf community rally for fully funded sign language interpreters at festivals and events
Northland's deaf community are rallying to get sign language interpreters at major events, anniversaries and festivals such as Waitangi Day and Anzac Day commemorations. Deaf Action NZ and Tū Tāngata Turi want the Government to fully fund New Zealand sign language interpreters for formal coverage of events, along with social interpreting throughout the day.
Est. 1979
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society
Johnston Cup: Best Basketball Player
2022
article – Taonga source: Stuff
Aotearoa’s first Deaf marae celebrates 30 years of empowering Turi Māori
Friday marks 30 years since the opening of the country’s first marae for Deaf and hard of hearing Māori. Since 1992, Rūaumoko Marae, in West Auckland’s Kelston, has been a place where Deaf students can learn about te ao Māori.
Est. 1990
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society
Manawatu Deaf Social Club: Ladies Singles – Pool
2022
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society
Souvenir Mug: Manawatu Deaf Society’s 60th Anniversary, 1962-2022
2022
video – Taonga source: Māori Television
Deaf basketball heads to Greece for world cup
The Black Thunder national basketball team is preparing for the World Deaf Basketball Cup next year in Greece. The Black Thunder team completed two games over the past weekend in Palmerston North and Wellington competing against the Australian national deaf basketball team, The Goannas.
2021
article – Taonga source: NZ Herald.
Deaf Northlander Eddie Hokianga urges Māori to turn their hand towards trilingual interpreter roles
Northland sign language tutor Eddie Hokianga has taken up the task of ensuring the region's deaf Māori community is heard. Hokianga (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Porou) has spent the last three years teaching te reo sign language to help fill a national void of interpreters fluent in the discourse.
2022
NZSL story – Taonga source: Janet Watt
Winning gold in the badminton doubles at Los Angeles 1985!
Janet Watt shares her experiences of winning gold in the women's badminton doubles with Carolyn Hamlin, where Pam Croskery and Penny Went also placed second.
Est. 1964
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE
Hawkes Bay Deaf Club
It all began on the 21st of March 1964. A group of deaf adults from Napier and Hastings got together to form the Hawkes Bay Deaf Club. Soon after, others from as far away as Wairoa and Waipukurau soon joined in as well. There were over 20 members in 1964.
2024
Object – Taonga source: Hawkes Bay Deaf Club
Souvenir Mug: Hawkes Bay Deaf Club’s 60th Anniversary