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1989
article – Taonga source: The Press

Big sporting event on shoestring budget

The Games will be about the same size as the 1974 sporting extravaganza in Christchurch, the Commonwealth Games. Yet it has been orchestrated on a budget of $700,000 – about one-third of the cost of the opening ceremony planned for the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland.
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
1989
article – Taonga source: Christchurch Star

More than 1300 involved

About 100 interpreters have been trained in Christchurch over the last year. The classes were organised by the hearing people but the deaf were the teachers. It is only the second time that New Zealand sign language has been taught in this country.
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Janet Watt
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
  • Pam Croskery
1988
article – Taonga source: NZ Woman’s Weekly

They’re naturals for the part

A production this month of the play Children of a Lesser God in Auckland will feature two deaf actors, Bryan Williams and Sheila Gibbons. And the starring role will be played, for the second time, by Gloss actress Miranda Harcourt.
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
van Asch Deaf Education Centre (Ko Taku Reo)
van Asch Deaf Education Centre (Ko Taku Reo)
van Asch Deaf Education Centre (Ko Taku Reo)
Est. 1880
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE

van Asch Deaf Education Centre (Ko Taku Reo)

van Asch Deaf Education Centre (now Ko Taku Reo; formerly Sumner School for the Deaf then van Asch School for the Deaf). The school has a long and illustrious history, with its services covering a huge geographical spread. Established in 1880, van Asch was the oldest special school establishment in New Zealand and also believed to be the oldest fully government funded residential school in the world. van Asch celebrated its 125th Anniversary in 2005. It merged with Kelston Deaf Education Centre to become Ko Taku Reo in 2020.
1987
video – Taonga source: Deaf Society of Canterbury

Some fresh air and football at the NZ Deaf Games, Christchurch 1987

Two men’s mixed teams played football 1.00pm to 3.00pm on Sunday 25th October 1987 at Cowles Stadium. No formal prizes were awarded for football, nor did it count for points towards the Aotearoa Turi Shield. It was for the selection of the New Zealand Deaf football team for the upcoming 1989 World Games for the Deaf in Christchurch.
Deaf Society of Canterbury
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Terry Kane
  • Tony Walton
1998
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: Autumn 1998

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
2015
publication – Taonga source: Oticon Foundation

Soundscape: February 2015

Oticon Foundation
1983
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: January 1983 (Vol. 20, No. 1)

NZSL Stories
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
  • Pam Croskery
  • Terry Kane
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
2019
video – Taonga source: Merge NZ

After decades of crusading for NZ’s deaf community, Auckland woman honoured as ‘local hero’

The New Zealander of the Year will be announced tonight and as part of it, a number of local heroes have been recognised. One of them is Aucklander Victoria Lessing, who has been deaf her whole life and has spent 20 years raising the profile of NZSL. Two years ago, her passion developed into a company called Merge NZ, which she runs alongside her business partner, Jaime Brown.
Merge NZ
biography
Profile

Elizabeth ‘Maree’ Carroll (QSM)

Maree has given decades of generous service to the community in which she lives. Maree was heavily involved in organising the St Dominic's School for the Deaf school reunions which enabled the school community to remain connected over many decades. Maree was instrumental in establishing the Manawatu Deaf Society, taking a leading role.
Est. 1993
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Bregmen Memorial Trophy: Eight Balls Championship

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Michelle Kruger
  • Shirley Bregmen
  • Terry Kane
2015
publication – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Absolutely Positively Windy Deaf: June 2015

Wellington Deaf Society
2000
Object – Taonga source: Hawkes Bay Deaf Club

Framed Civic Award in recognition of voluntary service to Napier: Polly Forman

Hawkes Bay Deaf Club
NZSL Stories
  • Ruth Jessep
1987
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Journal: September 1987 (Vol. 1, No. 3)

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
2016
publication – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Windy Hands: June 2016

Wellington Deaf Society
2009
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: December 2009

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Colleen Norris
  • Tony Walton
  • Ruth Jessep
  • Keethan Sundar
  • Jonathan Anton
  • John Schischka
  • Cecilia Waitohi
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.
1960
article – Taonga source: John McRae

N.Z. wrestler wins 2 medals

Auckland welterweight wrestler John McRae captured a silver medal and a bronze at the Olympic Games for the Deaf in Helsinki.
John McRae
NZSL Stories
  • Milton Reedy
Est. 1941
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Swindale Rose Bowl: Wellington Deaf Club Table Tennis Championship

Wellington Deaf Society
1975
video – Taonga source: Deaf Society of Canterbury

Christchurch Deaf Basketball: A trip to Westport

The Christchurch Deaf Club basketball team travels to Westport during Queen’s Birthday weekend 1975 to participate in the Matai Invitation Tournament. Games are played at the Westport Community Hall. Footage covers players travelling to the West Coast via cars, with a few stops on the way, and a compulsory stop at the pub!
Deaf Society of Canterbury
1989
video – Taonga source: Rodney Roberts

New Zealand Deaf Games in Wellington 1989

Coverage from the New Zealand Deaf Games in Wellington 1989, including athletics, long jump, discus, shot-put. The men’s basketball final saw Wellington competing against Christchurch, followed by a closing awards ceremony.
Rodney Roberts
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
1978
video – Taonga source: Deaf Society of Canterbury

Canterbury Deaf Club teams travel to Greymouth

The Canterbury Deaf Club Basketball & Netball teams travels to Greymouth, with the ‘Deaf Boys’ playing against the ‘Hot Shots’ and winning 67-54.
Deaf Society of Canterbury
1988
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Journal: September 1988 (Vol. 2, No. 3)

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
biography
Profile

Daniel ‘Danny’ Beech (Benemerenti Medal)

Daniel (Danny) Beech was born in Pahiatua in 1942 and attended St Dominic’s School for Deaf Children from the age of 5. Danny embarked on a life crammed with commitment and loyalty to the NZ Deaf community.
1981
video – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

NZ Deaf Sports Convention hosted in Palmerston North 1981

NZ Deaf Sports Convention hosted by Manawatu Deaf Club in Palmerston North, 1981.
Manawatu Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Tony Walton
  • John Mansell
  • Shona McGhie
1957
video – Taonga source: Susan Hamilton

Parent’s Day at Titirangi School for Deaf (1957)

Annual Parent’s Day at Titirangi School for Deaf, where students show their parents around the school and put on a performance – dancing, tītītōrea (short stick games) with end-of-year prizes.
Susan Hamilton
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Patreena Bryan
1992
Images – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf Rugby

Team Photo: National Deaf Sevens Tournament, 1992

New Zealand Deaf Rugby
1989
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • John Hunt
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
1991
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: August 1991

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Doug Croskery
  • John Mansell
  • Ruth Jessep
  • Colleen Norris
  • Tony Walton
  • John Hunt
Est. 1971
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Jones Trophy: Manawatu Deaf Club Table Tennis

Manawatu Deaf Society