reset filter
1992
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

Police complain to TVNZ about Curry documentary

The Ivan Curry documentary has prompted the deaf community to insist that professional sign language interpreters be used in all police and court work in future.
1977
video – Taonga source: Dennis Tod

Canterbury Annual Deaf Picnic 1977

Members of the Canterbury Deaf community make for a picnic on a lovely day, with tug-o-war and running races.
Dennis Tod
1993
video – Taonga source: Hilda Tamepo

Hilda Tamepo celebrates her 50th at ADS!

Hilda Tamepo celebrates her 50th birthday at the Auckland Deaf Society clubrooms. The joyous event includes speeches, dancing, and lots of food!
Hilda Tamepo
2000
video – Taonga source: Dorothy Jones

Memories of Ray and Polly Forman

Ray Forman and Polly Karaka both talk about bits and pieces of their life. Ray talks about being “kicked out” of Sumner as the New Zealand army occupied the school during the World War II.
Dorothy Jones
NZSL Stories
  • Patreena Bryan
  • Ruth Jessep
1991
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: August 1991

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • John Hunt
  • Tony Walton
  • Ruth Jessep
  • Colleen Norris
  • Doug Croskery
2019
article – Taonga source: The Northern Advocate

New Year Honours: Whangārei’s Kim Robinson, MNZM, deaf community advocate

A trip to the United States in 1990 gave Whangārei man Kim Robinson extra motivation to seek better and equal access for the deaf community in New Zealand. Now, that commitment to ensuring deaf people are heard and their needs met has seen him made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to the deaf community in the New Year's Honours List.
The Northern Advocate
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
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
1991
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: December 1991

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Janet Watt
  • Tony Walton
1990
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Journal: March 1990 (Vol. 4, No. 1)

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
1978
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

Total Communications camp, shown on ‘The South Tonight’

New Zealand's first total communications camp for Deaf children takes place in Tautuku, South Otago.
Television New Zealand Archive
Deaf View conferences
Deaf View conferences
Deaf View conferences
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.
2007
article – Taonga source: Unknown

Deaf chaplain dies before move home

Danny Beech, a long-time leader of New Zealand's deaf community, both Catholic and secular, has died.
Rūaumoko Marae
Rūaumoko Marae
Rūaumoko Marae
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.
1993
article – Taonga source: City Voice

Deaf viewers ask for a hand

People who can hear as well as see 'Reasonable Doubts' (TV3, 9.50pm Saturdays) might be surprised to learn that Deaf New Zealanders can understand deaf lawyer Tessa Kaufman’s sign language little better than they can. ASL, used by Deaf actor Marlee Matlin, is a foreign language here. My Deaf friends give it the thumbs up. But the failure of television in New Zealand to provide anything in NZSL is described as “a running sore” by Hilary McCormack.
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
1975
video – Taonga source: Sue Penman

NZ Deaf Sports Convention, Christchurch 1975

The Deaf community gather in Christchurch for the NZ Deaf Sports Convention in Labour Weekend, 1975.
Sue Penman
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
2004
video – Taonga source: Rūaumoko Komiti

A Day in the Life of Rūaumoko Marae

Insight into the preparations that go into a powhiri onto Rūaumoko Marae, and rare footage of the powhiri itself, followed by an interview with Patrick Thompson.
Rūaumoko Komiti
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.
biography
Profile

Patrick Thompson (QSM)

Patrick was of Ngati Paoa/Ngati Whanaunga descent. He was instrumental in organising the first National Hui for Māori Deaf in 1993. Throughout his career, Patrick acted as an advisor to many groups in the Māori and Deaf communities. Patrick was a strong advocate for training and supporting more trilingual interpreters, and for empowering Māori Deaf people to have greater access to both mainstream society and Māori tikanga.
Telethons
Telethons
Telethons
1970s onwards
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE

Telethons

Telethons were run nationwide in New Zealand in 1975-79, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1988, 1990-91, 1993 and 2009. The 24-hour fundraiser would take place in regions around New Zealand and was broadcast on TV. Viewers would be shown coverage of the telethon nearest to their location. Smaller regions would typically see coverage of the telethon in one of the main centres (Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch or Dunedin), and it was in those areas where Deaf people were invited to participate.
1992
article – Taonga source: Harbour News

Tech course to help the deaf

A significant step for New Zealand's deaf community has been taken this week. The country's first permanent sign language interpreters' course began on Monday at the Auckland Institute of Technology. At present there are only four official interpreters servicing New Zealand's more than 24,000 deaf people. Sixteen students from around the country started the two-year course this week.
2006
publication – Taonga source: Oticon Foundation

Soundscape: February 2006

Oticon Foundation
2007
video – Taonga source: Dan Hanks

Auckland Deaf Society re-opens after 11 month rebuild

Footage and interviews from the opening night of the newly redeveloped Auckland Deaf Society clubrooms late August 2007.
Dan Hanks
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • John Schischka
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
2004
video – Taonga source: Rūaumoko Komiti

The experiences of Māori Deaf

This segment from Māori TV’s Te Hēteri focuses on the experiences of Māori Deaf, catching up with Patrick Thompson, Whiti Ronaki, and Hemi Hema.
Rūaumoko Komiti
2023
video – Taonga source: Māori Television

Mother’s plea to see Aotearoa more sensitive to deaf community

Sign language is one of three official languages of Aotearoa, but Tofi Au’vaa says it's still a struggle educating people about the challenges faced by the deaf community.
Māori Television
1999
video – Taonga source: Rūaumoko Komiti

Deaf Association opens its new Auckland office

The Deaf Association of New Zealand opens its new offices on Great North Road, Avondale, Auckland in November 1999.
Rūaumoko Komiti
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
1992
article – Taonga source: Nelson Mail

Living in a silent world

This week is Deaf Awareness Week. Nelson Mail reporter interviewed two women from Nelson's deaf community this week: Fliss Maera and Susan Thomas. The Nelson Club has between 25 to 30 members.
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
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.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
2017
article – Taonga source: The Press.

Deaf community was home for Margaret Coutts

An obituary on Margaret Coutts who was "the mother of deaf sports", an active leader and strong positive role-model to younger members of the Deaf community. She was the first female president of the Christchurch Deaf Club, and was awarded a NZ Commemoration Medal for her contributions in 1990.
The Press.
NZSL Stories
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Terry Kane
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
  • Susie Ovens
  • Milton Reedy
  • Pam Croskery
2010
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: May 2010

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Terry Kane
  • Michelle Kruger
  • Colleen Norris
  • Doug Croskery
  • Shirley Bregmen
  • John Mansell
  • John Schischka