reset filter
1985
article – Taonga source: The Dominion

Job Advertisement: Interpreters for the Deaf

Applications are invited for the first New Zealand course of interpreter training.
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
1978
video – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

People like us – ‘Deaf Education and Technology’

A look into the world of Deaf people, in particular a glimpse into Deaf education at the time, and how technology improves the lives of Deaf people, with Daniel Beech demonstrating the use of a TTY.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1980
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: December 1980 (Vol. 3, No. 4)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
2009
video – Taonga source: Kerry Titcombe

Welcome Home – our Deaf athletes – from the Taipei Deaflympics!

The New Zealand Deaf athletes are welcomed back home at the Auckland Airport! New Zealand sent a team of 13 players and officials to the 2009 Taipei Summer Deaflympics. Michael Lynch won gold for karate, with Kerry Titcombe also obtaining bronze in karate.
Kerry Titcombe
NZSL Stories
  • Michael Lynch
1989
publication – Taonga source: Shona McGhie

VXIth World Games for the Deaf, Christchurch: 7-17 January 1989

Shona McGhie
NZSL Stories
  • Milton Reedy
  • Tony Walton
  • Pam Croskery
  • Janet Watt
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Jeff Went
  • Shona McGhie
1988
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: September 1988 (Vol. 11, No. 2)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
2006
article – Taonga source: The Dominion

Good signs

The Wellington Association for Deaf Children camp at the Silverstream Retreat at the weekend let families immerse themselves in "deaf culture".
2013
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2013 (Vol. 35, No. 1)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
2004
video – Taonga source: Rūaumoko Komiti

Patrick Thompson’s ‘Te Hēteri’ interview – unedited footage

Unedited footage of Patrick Thompson’s ‘Te Hēteri’ interview at the famed Star Sign Cafe on Auckland’s Dominion Road in 2004.
Rūaumoko Komiti
1984
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: June 1984 (Vol. 21, No. 2)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
  • Susie Ovens
1987
article – Taonga source: Lesley Schischka

Skipper sails on silent seas – Deafness no bar to contest racing

One local mariner, 66 year old, Laurence Schischka and his family, enjoy and succeed in sailing in total silence. Schischka, his wife Sylvia and their sons are oblivious to the creaking of the spars, the whir of winches, the thundering of wind billowing sails, even the sloshing of waves against the hull.
Lesley Schischka
Kelston Deaf Education Centre (Ko Taku Reo)
Kelston Deaf Education Centre (Ko Taku Reo)
Kelston Deaf Education Centre (Ko Taku Reo)
Est. 1958
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE

Kelston Deaf Education Centre (Ko Taku Reo)

Kelston Deaf Education Centre (now Ko Taku Reo; previously Kelston School for the Deaf). Kelston was established on a site in Archibald Road in 1958. The school had relocated firstly from Titirangi, then from Mt Wellington. KDEC used to provide education in a range of satellite classes throughout Auckland the upper North Island. Kelston, which also hosts Rūaumoko Marae, merged with van Asch Deaf Education Centre to become Ko Taku Reo in 2020.
1969
article – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Runs Hard At Drop Of Hanky

Noel Coventry is a 22-year-old deaf athlete and the sole New Zealand representative going to the Deaf Olympics in Yugoslavia. Club officials would drop a handkerchief for him to sight as a sign that the starting gun had been fired.
Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Patreena Bryan
  • Terry Kane
  • Milton Reedy
2014
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2014 (Vol. 36, No. 1)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
NZSL Stories
  • Ruth Jessep
1991
article – Taonga source: NZ Herald

The sounds of silence

Turn the light on, so I can hear what you're saying. It's an old line, but a favourite one among us hearing-impaired people, because it points up how we "hear" with our eyes as surely as blind people "see" with their fingers or their ears.
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Patreena Bryan
1989
article – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Sign language boost

Research on the complex sign language that deaf New Zealanders have created could push education authorities to recognise the language's authenticity. It has taken an American linguist to document the distinctive language.
Wellington Deaf Society
1977
article – Taonga source: Sarah Cameron

Success Story

The smile tells the story of the latest development in hearing aids, as 10-year-old Christoph Blum of Karori communicates with his mother.
Sarah Cameron
2001
publication – Taonga source: Oticon Foundation

Soundscape: September 2001

Oticon Foundation
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.
2011
video – Taonga source: Jared Flitcroft

Our Second Home: Wellington Deaf Club

The Wellington Deaf Club is a place where Deaf and hearing alike go to relax, take a break from the ‘outside’ world and communicate in a language that is loud. Jared Flitcroft explores why the Deaf Club is their second home and the cultural aspect of being Deaf in a ‘hearing’ world.
Jared Flitcroft
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.
1972
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: 1972 (Vol. 9, No. 1)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
2001
Images – Taonga source: Clive Morgan

Team Photo: Wellington/Central Districts Deaf Men’s Basketball Team, 2001

Clive Morgan
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
1992
article – Taonga source: NZ Herald

Court scenes show shocking injustice

When 'The Remand of Ivan Curry' concluded last night with the knowledge that a deaf man wrongly accused for murder and imprisoned for two years without trial was finally released with nothing – no apology nor any compensation – the indignation must have risen high in the throats of many viewers.
1987
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Netball Club, Netball Competition and Labour Weekend 1987

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Tony Walton
  • Colleen Norris
  • Shona McGhie
  • Kevin Pivac
1978
article – Taonga source: Courier News

New Deaf Unit at Hutt Valley College

Nine third-formers, all described as "profoundly deaf", began secondary school this year at Hutt Valley Memorial Technical College.
2012
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2012 (Vol. 34, No. 4)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1989
article – Taonga source: Christchurch Star

Bid took 12 years

Although many people will not have heard of the World Games for the Deaf, New Zealand's involvement with them spans 40 years. The first information about the games reached New Zealand in 1949 and the New Zealand Amateur Sports Association was formed.
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Milton Reedy
  • Terry Kane
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Susie Ovens
  • Tony Walton
  • Shona McGhie
2018
video – Taonga source: Deaf Children New Zealand

NZSL and Us: Diamond Johnson, Hamilton

Diamond is a bubbly and active little girl who loves a challenge. Her whānau embraces all three of New Zealand’s languages: English, Te Reo Māori and NZSL. Her mother is determined to improve her NZSL by attending sign language classes so she that she will be able to communicate with Diamond fully as she grows up. Her whānau has a strong commitment to ensure Diamond is exposed to as much NZSL as possible including access to Deaf role models.
Deaf Children New Zealand
1973
article – Taonga source: Pam Witko

Teacher Of Deaf Dies, Aged 64

The principal of the School for the Deaf, Sumner, died in Christchurch today after a short illness. Herbert Pickering was 64 years old.
Pam Witko