reset filter
2019
article – Taonga source: The Northern Advocate

New Year Honours: Whangārei’s Kim Robinson, MNZM, deaf community advocate

A trip to the United States in 1990 gave Whangārei man Kim Robinson extra motivation to seek better and equal access for the deaf community in New Zealand. Now, that commitment to ensuring deaf people are heard and their needs met has seen him made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to the deaf community in the New Year's Honours List.
The Northern Advocate
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
1983
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: March 1983 (Vol. 20, No. 2)

NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
  • Susie Ovens
  • John Hunt
  • Shona McGhie
2015
article – Taonga source: Stuff

Uber calls for review of NZTA restrictions on deaf drivers

Government rules restricting deaf and hearing impaired people from driving taxis need reviewing, Uber says. The ride hire app, which connects customers with private drivers, has just released an app with new features designed to help drivers with impaired hearing.
Stuff
1990
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: June 1990

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Terry Kane
  • John Mansell
  • Shona McGhie
  • Pam Croskery
  • Colleen Norris
  • Shirley Bregmen
  • Doug Croskery
1985
article – Taonga source: Unknown

Desperate need in N.Z. for interpreters

Qualified interpreters are desperately needed to cope with the needs of deaf people in New Zealand.
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
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
1991
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Journal: March 1991 (Vol. 5, No. 1)

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
1999
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: Winter 1999

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
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.
1992
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

Deaf man misses out on winning a car, claims discrimination

Holmes investigates the case of Wallace Williams, an Auckland Deaf man claiming he is being discriminated against. He won a contest at Hunters Plaza in Auckland for a car but was unable to claim the prize at the time because he could not hear the announcement that he was the winner.
Television New Zealand Archive
1990
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: October 1990

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Colleen Norris
  • Terry Kane
  • John Mansell
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
1980
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

Specialist in deaf education on NZ visit

From the day a child is diagnosed as being profoundly deaf, he should learn the system of "total communication," advocates Australian educationist Mr Brian Reynolds.
1971
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: 1971 (Vol. 8, No. 2)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
1974
article – Taonga source: Eastern Suburbs News

Successful integration of the deaf depends on community attitudes

If a New Zealand-born person doesn’t speak good English, people are likely to assume such a person is unintelligent. Such an assumption is wrong when the person is born deaf.
1990
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: April 1990

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Terry Kane
  • Doug Croskery
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
  • Colleen Norris
2014
video – Taonga source: Ministry of Education

Acknowledgements – Ko Wai Au? Who Am I? See My Voice?

An acknowledgement to all the team who helped make the Ko Wai Au? Who Am I? See My Voice? exhibition possible. Ko Wai Au is an exhibition empowering Māori rangatahi who identify as Deaf to communicate with others leading to a wider understanding of aspirations as young Deaf Māori.
Ministry of Education
2015
publication – Taonga source: Oticon Foundation

Soundscape: February 2015

Oticon Foundation
1989
video – Taonga source: Deaf Aotearoa

National Foundation for the Deaf promotional video

National Foundation for the Deaf produce a promotional video explaining their role and the purpose of their member organisations.
Deaf Aotearoa
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
2017
video – Taonga source: AUT Sign Language Section

Deaf Health Stories in NZSL

This project explores the experiences of Deaf New Zealanders in accessing healthcare and health information. 40 Deaf people from around New Zealand share their stories about barriers in this setting as well as strategies they have used in advocating for their right to access information, communication, and make informed decisions.
AUT Sign Language Section
1992
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: December 1992

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
2006
video – Taonga source: Handmade Productions Aotearoa

Sign of the Times: The Story of New Zealand’s Visual Language

In April 2006, New Zealand Parliament declared NZSL to be an official language - the culmination of a 20-year battle by the deaf community, and a true hallmark in the recognition of their native language. 'Sign of the Times' is about the deaf New Zealanders who fought to have their language recognised as a real language and as a viable means of communication. The film documents the community's celebration of the official recognition of their language and looks at the community's ongoing hopes and aspirations for their language and culture.
Handmade Productions Aotearoa
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
2005
video – Taonga source: AUT Visual Languages Section

Toa Anga Whati Māori

Māori TV's 'Toa Anga Whati Māori' profiles the Deaf Association of New Zealand on its weekly program, interviewing a series of Deaf people in sports (golf, touch rugby, rugby) before touching upon the job of a Deaf Awareness Officer who delivers training throughout New Zealand.
AUT Visual Languages Section
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
1980
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: May 1980 (Vol. 17, No. 4)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
  • Tony Walton
1998
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

Hearing Dogs for Deaf people sets up in NZ

A new scheme has begun, to train dogs to become hearing dogs for Deaf people, and also aims to have hearing dogs granted the same access rights as guide dogs for blind people.
Television New Zealand Archive
1993
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

Ivan Curry case has positive spinoff

Some good has resulted from the tragic case of deaf man Ivan Curry who was found not guilty after nearly two years in jail for murder, says the Deaf Association.
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
2011
article – Taonga source: Stuff

Special votes win deaf MP a seat

Mojo Mathers' rise to Parliament has been labelled a success not just for the Green Party, but also for the New Zealand deaf community.
Stuff
1995
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: February 1995

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Patreena Bryan
  • Jeff Went
  • John Mansell
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