
2018
video – Taonga source: Deaf Children New Zealand
NZSL and Us: Jorja Steele, Christchurch
Jorja loves to interact with Deaf students at her age and is a keen surfer. She uses NZSL at home and with both her Deaf and hearing peers. She attends a regular school, but it doesn’t stop her from being able to mingle with Deaf girls at age. Her mother is determined to allow Jorja to have the best of both worlds – Deaf and hearing.




COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE
Aotearoa New Zealand Deaf History: Classroom lesson plans
SignDNA has created six lesson plans that can guide learners through some themes within the archive, such as language change, Deaf gatherings, and Deaf in the media.

2001
article – Taonga source: Unknown
Loud and clear
The deaf community believes it has been misunderstood and misinterpreted for too long. Now it wants to be seen and heard as a group with its own cultural identity.

2010
video – Taonga source: Attitude Pictures
The Berry Family: Part 1
We take you into the home of the Berrys and look at the lives of deaf New Zealanders.


2010
video – Taonga source: Attitude Pictures
The Berry Family: Part 2
We take you into the home of the Berrys and look at the lives of deaf New Zealanders. Playing poker is one of this family’s favourite pastimes!

NZSL Stories

2005
video – Taonga source: DEAFinitely Youth Group
1st National Deaf Youth Camp, 2005
The 1st National Deaf Youth Camp – April 2005 at Finlay Adventure Park, Cambridge – was supported and organised by DEAFinitely Youth Group (DYG). It was founded in 2000 to host the 2nd Asia-Pacific Deaf Youth Camp, and it went on to support the 1st NDYC with 25 participants and 5 different workshops.

NZSL Stories

2023
article – Taonga source: Stuff
Acting experience leaves Deaf teen with another career option
New short film 'The Dining Table' is putting emerging Deaf talent from Aotearoa on to film festival screens. Lucy McKenzie-Bridle, 16, a Wellington Girls’ College student, makes her debut in The Dining Table, playing Ana, a Deaf teenager being raised in a hearing family.


1992
video – Taonga source: Point of View Productions
‘See What I Mean’
'See What I Mean' presents two real-life stories: the story of a family who were all born Deaf, and a journalist who loses her hearing. It offers positive advice about hearing loss as well as celebrating the New Zealand Deaf community.


2010
video – Taonga source: Attitude Pictures
The Value of Art
Abbie Twiss is curating Auckland’s first exhibition of deaf artists. She talks about the value of art and how being deaf influences her art.


2014
video – Taonga source: Ministry of Education
National Deaf Youth Hui 2014
In August 2014, the Ministry of Education brought Deaf students together from across New Zealand for a weekend of ideas, learning and friendship. The Ministry called the hui to better understand what school is really like for Deaf students and to gather their ideas on how things could be improved. This video captures the workshops, fun activities and growing friendships that happened over the weekend.


1993
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Communicate: September 1993

NZSL Stories

2013
video – Taonga source: Attitude Pictures
Young and Deaf: Dean’s Story
Dean Buckley is a young Deaf man on a mission. Only eighteen years old, Dean's already experienced a great deal of adversity, and now he's determined to become a leader and advocate for other Deaf teenagers. First up, taking on the challenges of Youth Parliament, representing Deaf MP Mojo Mathers.


1993
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Communicate: March 1993


2002
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post
In full voice
This fascinating book provides insight into a community about which most people are unaware. This is the world of Deaf culture, of Deaf as an identity, not a disability or deficit – Deaf with a capital D.

2016
video – Taonga source: Attitude Pictures
Deaf Teen’s New School
Gaby Evans is 13 and moving hundreds of kilometres from her rural home to Auckland's Kelston Deaf Education Centre. Until now she's been isolated, and never had to know how to sign. If she's going to make it on her own she's going to have to come out of her shell and learn to communicate with her deaf classmates.


1999
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Communicate: Spring/Summer 1999


1995
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Communicate: December 1995

NZSL Stories

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



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.

2009
video – Taonga source: Attitude Pictures
Young girl learns sign language
Twenty-year-old architectural technology student Amanda Cameron can’t help but smile since she’s learnt NZSL.


2015
video – Taonga source: Attitude Pictures
Marcia: Two Sides Of Me
On the Roller Derby court she's the revered 'Meat Train', but Marcia is starting to lose her hearing. She finds Deafness a scary prospect, yet must face her new identity.


2019
video – Taonga source: Merge NZ
The Watercooler: Deaf Edition
Three Deaf panelists talk about their experiences in communication, schooling, and work. Facilitated by a Deaf MC with interpreted voice over these hilarious, heartwarming experiences give an insight into the Deaf community.


1997
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Communicate: Summer 1997


2001
video – Taonga source: Lorraine Butler
Deaf Diversity – Queer Nation
Queer Nation meets a sporty lesbian with nimble fingers. Lorraine talks about her identity, involvement with Deaf sports, performing and access, emphasising that Deaf people are really no different from hearing people.

NZSL Stories

1993
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Communicate: June 1993

NZSL Stories