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Est. 2003
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Wallace Williams Memorial Trophy – Comedy

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Pam Croskery
2003
publication – Taonga source: Oticon Foundation

Soundscape: September 2003

Oticon Foundation
2022
video – Taonga source: Māori Television

Deaf filmmaker aspires to make TV series in sign language

A turi (deaf) filmmaker hopes to create a TV series entirely in NZSL to showcase the language to the world. Jared Flitcroft (Ngāti Maniapoto) enjoys telling stories from all kinds of people and perspectives but says stories from the Māori deaf community are imperative.
Māori Television
1997
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: Spring 1997

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Doug Croskery
1981
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: June 1981 (Vol. 18, No. 2)

NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
  • Colleen Norris
  • John Mansell
  • John Hunt
  • Milton Reedy
1996
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

John Rua participates in a taiaha course

John Rua participates in an annual taiaha course and as a participant, he leads a pōwhiri, welcoming the visitors. ‘Te Karere’ visits the course to film John and find out more from his course instructors.
Television New Zealand Archive
1980
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Dramatic Club, 1980-81

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
1999
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: Spring/Summer 1999

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
1987
video – Taonga source: Ngaire Doherty

Using drama as a means of communicating

A group of deaf and hearing-impaired people feature in ‘First Half’, where they “are using drama as a means of communicating”.
Ngaire Doherty
1989
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

The play ‘Children of a Lesser God’

This TV series (Sunday Magazine) looks at some of the projects young people are getting involved in. This clip is about acting in a play about Deaf people, in which Patty Still has been teaching the hearing cast NZSL for their roles.
Television New Zealand Archive
1995
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

The inaugural Deaf Festival is hosted at Kelston Deaf Education Centre

Deaf children are taught drama skills by two Deaf visitors from the UK, in preparation for their show at the opening night of the inaugural Deaf Festival, hosted by Kelston Deaf Education Centre.
Television New Zealand Archive
1998
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: Winter 1998

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
1991
article – Taonga source: The Dominion

Clowning Around

They are all members of Palmerston North-based Madedra (Manawatu Deaf Drama Group). Chilean-born drama tutor, Rolmedo Olmedo reckons he has found in them some of the best mime actors he has ever worked with. "They are so natural," he says.
1980
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: December 1980 (Vol. 17, No. 6)

NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Milton Reedy
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
  • John Hunt
1990s
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Large Fabric Sign: MADEDRA – Manawatu Deaf Drama Group

Manawatu Deaf Society
1996
video – Taonga source: Chris Blum

Summer Deaf Youth Camp: Drama Show

Youth campers at the 1996 Summer Deaf Youth Camp in Otaki put on an entertaining evening drama show!
Chris Blum
NZSL Stories
  • Keethan Sundar
2015
video – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

History through Young Eyes: Interview with Susie Ovens

A Tu Kokiri student interviews Susie Ovens on her involvement with the infamous Deaf Sign Singers group.
Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
1993
article – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Fun and laughter in imaginative deaf, mime show

The show, from Manawatu Deaf Drama Group Madedra, is at the Globe Theatre on Friday and Saturday. It's an imaginative work created by the seven deaf actors in the group. Settings, props, costumes and make-up are all the work of other members of Madedra. 'City, Country and Sheep' will show the deaf actors' skills.
Manawatu Deaf Society
1994
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: June 1994

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
1989
article – Taonga source: Unknown

Deaf study tour hit by obstacle

Many obstacles, including their deafness, are getting in the way of a planned study to the United States and Britain for Angela and Shelia.
1991
article – Taonga source: The Dominion

People Power: Madedra

Madedra, the Manawatu Deaf Drama Group, is putting on a show 'People' which plays at the National Library next Sunday. They have also been invited to perform in the International Festival of Deaf Theatre in Spain but still needed to raise enough money.
Early 2000s
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Wellington Deaf Society Clubroom Mural: Painted by Shaun Fahey

Wellington Deaf Society
2017
article – Taonga source: Stuff

Deaf Short Film Festival celebrates New Zealand’s deaf talent and culture

Wellington is famous for always having a film festival on, but one coming up this weekend is more than just noise. The Deaf Short Film Festival is held every second year, and has two main parts – the short film competition, and the film festival itself, which is a showcase of the competition entries and a selection of short films made both in New Zealand and overseas.
Stuff
2016
publication – Taonga source: Oticon Foundation

Soundscape: March 2016

Oticon Foundation
Est. 1978
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society Hanley Shield: Auckland Deaf Dramatic Competition

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
2004
video – Taonga source: AUT Visual Languages Section

Memories of Shaun Fahey

Shaun Fahey, a Deaf artist, talks about illustrating signs for the NZSL Dictionary, and what life was like for a young Shaun growing up in Christchurch under the rule of oralism.
AUT Visual Languages Section
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Susie Ovens
1977
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Dramatic Club, 1977-78

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
1987
article – Taonga source: Mary Johnson

Getting Message Over For The Deaf

Threading a needle needs a straight eye with a steady hand, which 15-year-old Susan Ovens illustrated through mime at the closing function of Deaf Awareness Week on Sunday. The Deaf Awareness Week function was held in the Downtown complex in Auckland. The Governor General's speech was translated into sign language by the president of the New Zealand Association of the Deaf, Mr B.McHattie. 
Mary Johnson
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
1998
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: Spring 1998

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
1993
article – Taonga source: The Guardian

Top Communicator

Local man Lindsay Jones has a national reputation as a skilful storyteller. Unless more people learn sign language, however, that recognition is likely to remain limited mainly to the deaf community.