2016
article – Taonga source: Manawatū Standard
Teaching the deaf since 1973
Teaching for almost 50 years has proved a rewarding career for Terry O'Brien, who has witnessed the development of deaf education. He has seen the transition of deaf education from an emphasis on teaching verbally and through text, to an emphasis on Signed English then NZSL in the 90s.
1987
article – Taonga source: The Dominion
Communicating from a silent world
Jenny Griffiths, the mother of two profoundly deaf children, talks about communicating with them in Total Communication.
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
1985
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post
An ear for the deaf
The 600 people in Wellington at last have their own sign interpreter. Rachel Locker was appointed as sign language interpreter for the deaf on Monday.
NZSL Stories
1974
article – Taonga source: Eastern Suburbs News
Successful integration of the deaf depends on community attitudes
If a New Zealand-born person doesn’t speak good English, people are likely to assume such a person is unintelligent. Such an assumption is wrong when the person is born deaf.
1959
video – Taonga source: Susan Hamilton
Sports Day at Kelston School for the Deaf
The School for Deaf annual sports day is held at Kelston with athletics, long jumping, relay races and performances.
NZSL Stories
1987
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Journal: December 1987 (Vol. 1 No. 4)
1968
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: Winter 1968 (Vol. 5, No. 4)
NZSL Stories
1986
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: Winter 1986 (Vol. 22. No. 4)
NZSL Stories
1974
article – Taonga source: The Dominion
Deaf people can now use the telephone
So far, four teleprinter phonetype telephones have been installed in the homes of totally deaf people in the Wellington area. They can be hired from the Wellington branch of the New Zealand deaf communications network.
1968
video – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
A Deaf Child in the Family
“A Deaf Child in the Family” is an award-winning film which shows authentic scenes from Deaf education centres at Kelston, St Dominics and Sumner, produced as a resource for families of deaf children.
1965
article – Taonga source: Pam Witko
The Silent Olympics
The team of 17 deaf athletes are farewelled at Kelston School for the Deaf, with official team photos, before leaving for the 10th International Games for the Deaf at Washington D.C.
1980
article – Taonga source: Education News
“Deaf kids aren’t dumb you know?” 100 Years of Education for the Deaf
Van Asch College, as it will now be known, is no longer a school exclusively for the deaf.
1987
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Journal: June 1987 (Vol. 1, No. 2)
NZSL Stories
1987
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive
‘Deaf Book’: First NZSL dictionary makes it to print
Dan Levitt’s work on the first NZSL dictionary in 1985 popularised the name, ‘New Zealand Sign Language’. In this news segment, Dan describes the different between the English Signing System and NZSL.
1982
article – Taonga source: The Dominion
Interpreter service for deaf urged
One of the New Zealand Association for the Deaf’s priorities is to get interpreters for the profoundly deaf. This was the message in a speech from Mrs Pat Dugdale.
NZSL Stories
1992
article – Taonga source: Western Leader
Deaf learn Maori culture
A Maori house of learning for deaf children was opened at the Kelston Deaf Education Centre in Auckland yesterday after many hours of voluntary work by deaf adults and pupils.
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.
1950
article – Taonga source: Zealandia
World Authorities Impressed by Catholic School for Deaf
A visit to the Catholic School for the Deaf, conducted by the Dominican Sisters in Wellington, was paid recently by Dr. Irene Ewing and her husband, Dr. A.W.G Ewing, renowed authorities on the education of the deaf.
1981
article – Taonga source: NZ Woman’s Weekly
Deaf people CAN lead a ‘normal’ life….
– and Val Jillings and her deaf family prove it! This is Deaf Awareness Week – so the Quota Club of Auckland will hold week-long displays, video films and discussions in the city’s Downtown Walkway and Centrecourt.
1995
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Communicate: December 1995
NZSL Stories
1980
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post
Split over how to teach deaf worries parent
Parents of deaf children would be saddened to hear that educationists oppose teaching deaf pupils the technique of "total communication", a parent has stated in a letter to the Post.
1970
article – Taonga source: The Times.
Problem that too often falls on ‘deaf ears’…
In Hamilton, there are four deaf units, three at Hamilton West and one at Melville Intermediate. Next year there is going to be a deaf unit at Melville High School.
1992
article – Taonga source: The Dominion
Needs of deaf people given ‘low’ priority
New Zealand Sign Language must be given official recognition as a language or it will die, Deaf Association President Jennifer Brain says.
1989
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: July 1989
NZSL Stories
1989
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive
Interview with I. King Jordan about Deaf education
The first Deaf president of Gallaudet University, I. King Jordan, is visiting Christchurch, New Zealand for the World Games of the Deaf in January 1989. Dr King Jordan is interviewed about the changes he has implemented at Gallaudet University, and Deaf education in NZ.
NZSL Stories
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.
1995
video – Taonga source: Pam Witko
Memories of Doreen Howell (Forman)
Memories of Doreen Howell, a life member of Wellington Deaf Society, was recorded on 9 July 1995 at Pam and Kaz Witko's place.
1988
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Journal: September 1988 (Vol. 2, No. 3)
NZSL Stories
1994
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Communicate: June 1994