reset filter
1974
article – Taonga source: NZ Woman’s Weekly

14-year-old Deaf boy is a precision artist

For two years, 14-year-old Steven Menefy has been making graphic wall plaques.
1989
publication – Taonga source: Deaf Education History Aotearoa NZ

Yearbook: van Asch College, 1989

Deaf Education History Aotearoa NZ
1982
article – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Coping in a hearing world

Rachel Noble and Donna Allen, both 17 and profoundly deaf, talk about their experiences in education.
Wellington Deaf Society
1999
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: Winter 1999

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
2005
video – Taonga source: DEAFinitely Youth Group

1st National Deaf Youth Camp, 2005

The 1st National Deaf Youth Camp – April 2005 at Finlay Adventure Park, Cambridge – was supported and organised by DEAFinitely Youth Group (DYG). It was founded in 2000 to host the 2nd Asia-Pacific Deaf Youth Camp, and it went on to support the 1st NDYC with 25 participants and 5 different workshops.
DEAFinitely Youth Group
NZSL Stories
  • Keethan Sundar
1989
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: May 1989

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Colleen Norris
  • John Mansell
  • Doug Croskery
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Michelle Kruger
  • Terry Kane
1982
article – Taonga source: NZ Woman’s Weekly

Pat’s deafness helps others

The new field officer for the deaf, Pat says “…deaf people are not morons.”
NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
  • Tony Walton
1991
publication – Taonga source: Deaf Education History Aotearoa NZ

Yearbook: van Asch College, 1991

Deaf Education History Aotearoa NZ
1996
publication – Taonga source: Deaf Education History Aotearoa NZ

Yearbook: van Asch Deaf Education Centre, 1996

Deaf Education History Aotearoa NZ
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?
1946
article – Taonga source: NZ Tablet

Making the Deaf Hear and the Dumb Speak: The Splendid Work of St. Dominic’s School, Wellington.

Two years ago, the New Zealand Dominicians opened a Catholic school for deaf children at 15 Dover Street, Island Bay, Wellington. The article records the impressions of a Wellington journalist who visited the school recently.
2002
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

In full voice

This fascinating book provides insight into a community about which most people are unaware. This is the world of Deaf culture, of Deaf as an identity, not a disability or deficit – Deaf with a capital D.
2017
publication – Taonga source: Deaf Education History Aotearoa NZ

Yearbook: van Asch Deaf Education Centre, 2017

Deaf Education History Aotearoa NZ
1987
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

Parents speak of their fears for the future of St Dominic’s School for Deaf Children

Following the potential closure of St Dominic's, parents express their concerns at a community meeting for their deaf children’s future if they were to be mainstreamed into a local school.
Television New Zealand Archive
2017
article – Taonga source: Hawkes Bay Today

Stories of Hawke’s Bay’s deaf school heard

Among the schooling communities in Hawke's Bay perhaps one of the most unique is the deaf community; many of whom were taught at Napier's Onekawa Deaf Unit. Their stories, heard over the past two years by resource teacher of the deaf Juliet Clarke, have now been compiled into a one-of-a-kind book 'Hearing Aid Bras and Other Stories 1969-2014.'
Hawkes Bay Today
1995
publication – Taonga source: Deaf Education History Aotearoa NZ

Yearbook: van Ash Deaf Education Centre, 1995

Deaf Education History Aotearoa NZ
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.
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.
Susan Hamilton
NZSL Stories
  • Patreena Bryan
1995
publication – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

38th New Zealand Games for the Deaf: Wellington, Labour Weekend 1995

Wellington Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Ruth Jessep
  • Tony Walton
  • Shona McGhie
  • Colleen Norris
1991
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

Backchat no problem for lip-reading ref

Deafness has failed to keep John Mansell from a successful career as a rugby league referee. "I know the rule book inside out. If you know the rules and the signals well there's no reason why a referee has to talk."
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
1989
publication – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

33rd New Zealand Games for the Deaf: Wellington, 19-23 October 1989

Wellington Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Ruth Jessep
  • Tony Walton
  • Colleen Norris
  • Shona McGhie
biography
Profile

Noeline ‘Patty’ Still (MNZM)

Patty, born 1932, received the M.N.Z.M in 2003 for her involvement in many activities and initiatives within the Deaf community. Patty was recognised for her efforts in promoting NZSL through her teaching of NZSL, and her work raising public awareness via her performances with the Christchurch Silent Singers group.
2010
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: August 2010

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Cecilia Waitohi
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Shirley Bregmen
  • Michelle Kruger
  • Richard Hay
  • Ruth Jessep
  • John Mansell
2013
publication – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Absolutely Positively Windy Deaf: September 2013

Wellington Deaf Society
1946
article – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Teaching The Deaf To Speak

Margaret is one of some 21 kiddies, aged from five to seven years, who for the most part born deaf, are receiving special instruction at St. Dominic's School for the Deaf at Island Bay, Wellington, the first Catholic institution of its kind to be established in the Dominion.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1974
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

Putting Them In Touch: New World Opened For Deaf With ‘Talking Telephones’

Anthony and Christine Walton, both deaf, are recipients of one of the first phonotypes to be installed in the Wellington area.
1987
article – Taonga source: Sunday Times

Getting the deaf off their hands

Auckland film-maker Ann Andrews has embarked on a project that Television New Zealand initially regarded as unpalatable last year She is making a film about deaf people. Anne is allowing the deaf to use their first language – sign language.
1986
article – Taonga source: Unknown

Silent Communication

Week in, week out, Linda's hands flutter expressively about events from the spectrum of human existence: funerals, trade union meetings, church services, antenatal classes, court cases, visits to doctor and lawyer.
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
1987
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Journal: April 1987 (Vol. 1, No. 1)

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
1991
video – Taonga source: Dorothy Jones

NZSL Tutors attend an intensive City Lit Training course in London

In the history of NZSL teaching, perhaps the most important development was when 8 NZSL tutors attended a two-week intensive teaching course in London in 1991. Watch this condensed version (taking from almost 29 hours of footage!) to get a sense of what the training was like.
Dorothy Jones
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton