
1969
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: 1969 (Vol. 6, No. 3)

1994
video – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1944 – 1994: St Dominic’s celebrates its Golden Jubilee!
Around 250 people attended the 50th Jubilee, commemorating 50 years of St Dominic’s School for the Deaf. Footage shows many old photo albums, reunion photos being taken, a Jubilee Mass and a visit to the old Dover Street school grounds.







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.


1988
video – Taonga source: Tony Clews
First Deaf rugby league game between Australia and New Zealand in Sydney
Historic first rugby league game between New Zealand and Australia, which took place in Sydney 1988 (Henson Park, Newton). Australia won 16–6.


NZSL Stories


2002
video – Taonga source: Dorothy Jones
40th Anniversary: Weekend-long celebrations at Manawatu Deaf Society!
Manawatu Deaf Society celebrates its 40th anniversary with a packed weekend-long programme in September 2002.










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.


1989-90
video – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
St Dominic’s 45th Jubilee
There are many speeches from past pupils and staff recalling their time at St Dominic’s. The casually filmed footage covers part of the four-day 45th reunion at St Dominic’s School for the Deaf, with many speeches from past pupils and staff recalling their time at St Dominic’s.








2000
video – Taonga source: Shona McGhie
ADS Basketball Club 50th Jubilee
The Auckland Deaf Society Basketball Club celebrate their ‘Golden’ Anniversary, their 50th anniversary, at the ADS Balmoral clubrooms where people share their memories of being involved in the basketball club.



NZSL Stories


2006
video – Taonga source: Dan Hanks
Mardi Gras celebrations
Auckland Deaf Society, about to close for a total building redevelopment, hosts a final social event: a Mardi Gras at the Deaf Club.


NZSL Stories


1980
video – Taonga source: Sue Penman
Sumner School for the Deaf 100 Years Centenary celebration
Footage by Sue Penman, of members of the Deaf community and their families attending the centenary celebrations at Sumner School for the Deaf, and taking a tour of the school.




1987
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Book: The Story of the AUCKLAND DEAF SOCIETY Inc 1937–1987, Compiled by John M. Hunt




NZSL Stories






Est. 1992
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE
Rūaumoko Marae
Rūaumoko Marae has been part of Deaf Māori community for 30 years and is a central part of Deaf Māori community. It's a place where Deaf Māori can just be; they can connect and learn about te ao Māori.


2006
article – Taonga source: NZ Catholic
Deaf community gathers to honour teacher and friend
The deaf community of the lower North Island gathered in Palmerston North on the last weekend of September to honour a teacher and chaplain, mentor and friend who has worked with the deaf since 1972.


1998
video – Taonga source: Dorothy Jones
End of Year Celebration and Prizegiving 1998: Manawatu Deaf Society Sports Section
The Manawatu Deaf Society Sports Section celebrates its annual End of Year Prizegiving evening at the Clubrooms, with happy hour, dancing, speeches, raffle prizes at a time when smoking was still allowed inside the clubroom!










COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE
Deaf View conferences
The series of national Deaf View conferences have been organised by Deaf people in New Zealand spanning three decades. Each conference has successfully created a platform for better awareness and understanding of Deaf culture and NZSL language; and nurturing links for a stronger Deaf community at a local, national and international level. They also celebrated the rich achievements and diversity of the Deaf community over the past 30 years as well as often pointing the way forwards, for a better resourced and more empowered Deaf community.


2024
Object – Taonga source: Hawkes Bay Deaf Club
Souvenir Coaster: Hawkes Bay Deaf Club’s 60th Anniversary


NZSL Stories


2014
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
Deaf Southern Star: 2014 (Vol. 36, No. 4)








1992
video – Taonga source: Rodney Roberts
Manawatu Deaf Society celebrates its 30th anniversary!
The Manawatu Deaf Society clubroom at Totara Road is jam-packed as the club celebrates its 30th anniversary!




1998
video – Taonga source: Dorothy Jones
Manawatu Women’s Group celebrates its 30th birthday!
The fine women of the Manawatu Women’s Group celebrate their 30th birthday, and tell stories about their time in the Women's group. Games, cake-cutting, photo montages up for viewing and lots of reminiscing, before the ladies head out for a well-attended dinner at a restaurant open to all, even the men!






1989-90
video – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
Four days of festivities at St Dominic’s 45th Jubilee
Footage of the St Dominic’s four-day 45th reunion depicts the cutting of the cake, friends, classmates and family catching up over a picnic on the lawn of the school grounds.








2021
video – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society
Wellington Deaf Society: Welcome Home Party!
Wellington Deaf Society finally has a new home, a new Deaf Club! A formal opening on Saturday 24 April 2021 to celebrate its new building since selling its Marion Street building in 2015.




1955
video – Taonga source: Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision
Picnic at Waihora Park Domain
Participants in the Annual Convention of the New Zealand Deaf Societies have a full-day picnic at Waihora Park Domain, in Motukarara with plenty of races!


NZSL Stories


2012
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
Deaf Southern Star: 2012 (Vol. 34, No. 3)








1972
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: 1972 (Vol. 9, No. 3)
NZSL Stories






Est. 1980s
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE
The Sign Singing Superstars
Throughout the early 1980s, the New Zealand Deaf community created two sign singing supergroups: The Sign Singers from Auckland, and The Silent Singers from Christchurch. These two groups pioneered Sign Singing as an art form and gained considerable public admiration for their efforts. Both groups made appearances on national Telethon events, and the Auckland group also were regulars on the Stars on Sunday programme, making more appearances than any other single group.


1962
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: June 1962




NZSL Stories


1955
video – Taonga source: Archives New Zealand
National Film Unit visits Sumner School for the Deaf – 75th Jubilee
The National Film Unit visits Sumner School for the Deaf to report on progress in the education of deaf children and to check out the school's 75th Jubilee celebrations.




1989
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: October 1989




NZSL Stories


1980
video – Taonga source: Dennis Tod
Sumner School for the Deaf celebrates its centenary (100th)
Members of the Deaf community and their families attend the centenary celebrations at Sumner School for the Deaf.




2009
article – Taonga source: Palmerston North Diocesan News
We See What You Mean – St Dominic’s past in print
A history of St Dominic's School for the Deaf was launched in March in Feilding and Auckland. 'We See What You Mean' has been the culmination of many years' work by author Dorothy Pilkington and the school's History Society Committee.








