reset filter
1985
article – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Overcoming the invisible handicap

It takes only a few minutes in the company of Pat Dugdale to realise that she has a mischievous sense of fun. It’s almost as if she enjoys shocking people and then watching their reaction.
Wellington Deaf Society
1986
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

Te Aro Deaf students featured in ‘The Video Dispatch’

Heather Campbell, a Teacher of the Deaf, talks about the need for Deaf children and their families to have access to language early in life. This episode screened during Deaf Awareness Week in 1986.
Television New Zealand Archive
1983
article – Taonga source: Eastern Suburbs News

Telephone talk for the deaf

Mrs Lilian Walton of Kilbirnie is the proud owner of a new machine which enables deaf people to talk on the phone. For Mrs Walton, the teleprinter means she can "talk" to her deaf son and his deaf wife.
1990s
Object – Taonga source: Hawkes Bay Deaf Club

Ultratec Minicom IV TTY

Hawkes Bay Deaf Club
2003
article – Taonga source: Victoria News, Victoria University of Wellington

NZSL dictionary includes te reo Māori

Deaf New Zealanders now have access to te reo Māori vocabulary in the Online Dictionary of NZSL, compiled by Victoria’s Deaf Studies Research Unit.
1997
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: Autumn 1997

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
1992
article – Taonga source: Sunday Times

Ivan’s story perfectly told

A review of 'The Remand of Ivan Curry', a docudrama about the deaf man held on remand for 2 years accused of murdering his nephew.
2006
video – Taonga source: Ko Taku Reo, Deaf Education New Zealand

NZSL becomes an official language of New Zealand

On 6th April 2006, members of the Deaf community and supporters gathered on the steps of parliament to celebrate the NZSL Bill passing its Third Reading, becoming the NZSL Act (2006). This marked the end of a long journey to give NZSL official status in Aotearoa New Zealand. This footage was screened on TV3 that evening.
Ko Taku Reo, Deaf Education New Zealand
1991
article – Taonga source: Unknown

Signs break the ice

Lower Hutt's Myra Sullivan showing hearing people how to use sign language at a workshop for the deaf held at Wellington College of Education yesterday.
2008
video – Taonga source: Attitude Pictures

Nirvana teaching Sign Language

She’s a great mum and teacher and she’s deaf. Nirvana Graham is creating history by teaching our third official language in mainstream school.
Attitude Pictures
2019
article – Taonga source: Nelson Mail.

Alarm at cuts in support services for Nelson deaf community

Members of Nelson's deaf community say cutbacks in support services from Deaf Aotearoa have left them without access to crucial interpreting help, leaving some in vulnerable situations.
Nelson Mail.
1983
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

Telephones for the deaf

For the first time since they met, Pam and Kaz Witko can talk to each other on the telephone… well, it’s not really talking it’s more like writing letters, only a lot faster.
2022
article – Taonga source: Stuff

Unique Wellington school for Deaf students where sign language rules could help more kids, community says

Parents and teachers at a unique school for Deaf students within a school believe more children in Wellington could benefit from the service. And they are calling for a high school to be set up to teach Deaf students across the region.
Stuff
1996
article – Taonga source: Taranaki Daily News

Lobbying pays off for deaf community

Three years of lobbying for more support has finally borne fruit for the Taranaki deaf community. An office of the Deaf Association opened in New Plymouth this week, to provide needs assessment, information and some interpretation services for deaf people.
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
2011
video – Taonga source: Asia Downunder

I’m Deaf, Let’s Talk

Meet Karishma Mohan, one of the faces of NZSL Week 2011. Here, we get a glimpse of Karishma's life – both home, work and socially. She is studying to become a teacher with a practicum at Kelston Deaf Education Centre's pre-school.
Asia Downunder
1987-91
video – Taonga source: Susan Thomas

News Review – Montage

A collection of clips from the ‘News Review’ programme 1987-1991.
Susan Thomas
1982
article – Taonga source: The Dominion

TVNZ plan deaf service

TVNZ says that several hundred pages of detailed information can be made available and rapidly selected by the viewer. The information ranges from frequently updated news and weather, both national and regional, to travel and consumer and social services media.
1986
article – Taonga source: Zealandia

A capital reception

An interpreter passes on the Pope's message to the deaf during the outdoor Mass at Athletic Park.
1995
article – Taonga source: NZ Herald

Signs from the silent world

Deaf students have the right to equal access to tertiary education but who will pay for sign language interpreters?
1996
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

Deaf Awareness Week 1996

Deaf Awareness Week 1996 begins, with a spotlight on Des Barton, who finds the latest technology in hearing aids a great improvement. Angela Sew Hoy highlights that the week is aiming to raise awareness about Deaf people, their language and culture.
Television New Zealand Archive
1992
video – Taonga source: Sue Williams

The Remand of Ivan Curry

A documentary outlining the case of Ivan Curry who, in 1988, was arrested and tried for the murder of his baby nephew. The documentary explores the case and in particular the plight of Ivan Curry who was remanded without bail for 15 months awaiting trial, as well as the difficulty Deaf people face navigating the justice system.
Sue Williams
2004
video – Taonga source: Rūaumoko Komiti

Opening of the Advance Centre

The opening of the Advance Centre, a tertiary support centre for Deaf and hearing impaired students in the Auckland region, attended by Hon Ruth Dyson, Minister for Disability Issues, and Patrick Thompson - Māori Deaf leader.
Rūaumoko Komiti
1983
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

Speech for the deaf

The Minister of Broadcasting was getting in some last-minute swot on sign language, in preparation for a speech tonight to an audience made up mainly of deaf people.
1992
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

Help to get to varsity

A deaf Wellington woman may now realise her life's ambition thanks to a Workbridge Women's Study Award. Sarah Cameron of Karori had always wanted to complete a university degree and train as a teacher of the deaf.
2009
video – Taonga source: Sonia Pivac

Deaf protest against Advance Centre closure

Deaf protest against shutting down the Advance Centre, a tertiary support centre for Deaf and hearing impaired students in the Auckland region.
Sonia Pivac
2016
video – Taonga source: Attitude Pictures

Parenting with Sign Language

We’re alongside Sarah who is Deaf and preparing to give birth to her first child. Having been there twice before, Deaf parents Victoria and Greg, are on hand for advice.
Attitude Pictures
1989
article – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Deaf angry at threat facing News Review

Deaf people are angered and disappointed by the threat facing the TV show News Review.
Wellington Deaf Society
1989
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Spring 1989 (Vol. 23, No. 3)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
  • Tony Walton
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
biography
Profile

Patrick Thompson (QSM)

Patrick was of Ngati Paoa/Ngati Whanaunga descent. He was instrumental in organising the first National Hui for Māori Deaf in 1993. Throughout his career, Patrick acted as an advisor to many groups in the Māori and Deaf communities. Patrick was a strong advocate for training and supporting more trilingual interpreters, and for empowering Māori Deaf people to have greater access to both mainstream society and Māori tikanga.
1980
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

Special help for deaf SC candidates

The special needs of deaf candidates sitting School Certificate will be recognised by the Education Department this year for the first time.