
1990
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: Autumn/Winter 1990 (Vol. 24, No. 1)
NZSL Stories

1995
video – Taonga source: Allan Richardson
Northern Deaf Youth Camp 1995
Coverage of the participants and activities enjoyed at the 1995 Northern Deaf Youth Camp in Lake Whakamaru, Waikato.

NZSL Stories

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.

2001
video – Taonga source: DEAFinitely Youth Group
Miss and Mr Deaf New Zealand, 2001
The ‘007’ themed Miss and Mr Deaf New Zealand event, expertly hosted by Victoria Skorikova and Tony Walton was a major fundraising event for the 2nd Asia Pacific Deaf Youth Camp. It was organised in 5 weeks and raised $7,000 towards camp costs.

NZSL Stories

1973
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: 1973 (Vol. 10, No. 2)

2019
video – Taonga source: Attitude Pictures
Using sign language as a family
The Fergusons are an average family of five who have fun, sometimes fight but mostly get along. The main difference is that three of them are deaf, and NZSL is the first language for the whole family. How does this work in a busy household with two teens and a toddler? We spend a few days with the Fergusons and discover it works remarkably well. Especially for the eldest Zoe who is exploring advocating for New Zealand deaf youth.

NZSL Stories

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.


2006
video – Taonga source: DEAFinitely Youth Group
2nd National Deaf Youth Camp, 2006
Footage of the 2nd National Deaf Youth Camp was during 25 September to 30 September 2006, with 50 participants. The event was organised by Christchurch Deaf Youth Club which was set up after the 1st National Deaf Youth Camp.

NZSL Stories

2003
publication – Taonga source: Oticon Foundation
Soundscape: September 2003

2002
video – Taonga source: Sara Pivac Alexander
Asia-Pacific Deaf Youth Camp, 2002
The 2nd Asia Pacific Deaf Youth camp (APDYC) held at the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre in Turangi is featured on ‘Inside Out’. Altogether, there were 43 Deaf youths from 12 countries, 15 youth leaders, 10 interpreters and a couple of guest speakers.


2017
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
Deaf Southern Star: 2017 (Vol. 39, No. 3)


2009
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: April 2009

NZSL Stories



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.

2019
video – Taonga source: Merge NZ
The Watercooler: Deaf Youth edition
Deaf Youth in New Zealand sharing experiences and stories from their lives.


2002
video – Taonga source: Dorothy Jones
Auckland Schools for Deaf: 60th Reunion
Weekend celebrations are kickstarted with a Māori Deaf kapa haka group to perform a haka powhiri. Vintage teachers such as Les Bury briefly summarise their experiences of working in Deaf education over the years.


2023
article – Taonga source: Stuff
Future leaders of Deaf community share vision for NZ Sign Language
While NZSL Week runs from May 8-14, young leaders of the Deaf community are continuously advocating for their culture and language in the hearing world every other week of the year.


2014
video – Taonga source: Ministry of Education
Ko Wai Au? Who Am I? See My Voice?
A video with six rangatahi communicating their stories of being young Turi Māori (Māori Deaf). The topics they discuss include recognition and acknowledgement of Deaf people in the past, Dame Whina Cooper and the impact of Kelston Deaf Education Centre.


Est. 2005
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
DEAFinitely Youth Group Comedy Competition: Best Female Performer


1984
article – Taonga source: Mary Johnson
New Lynn Lions Club sponsor deaf youths on an exchange overseas
The New Lynn Lions Club has scored a first. The club is the first in the country to sponsor deaf youths on an exchange overseas. It is sending Sally Robertson (19) and Lyndon Malcolm (19), both of Titirangi, to Oregon for about eight weeks.


2009
publication – Taonga source: Oticon Foundation
Soundscape: September 2009

2023
article – Taonga source: The Northern Advocate
‘Here I can be myself’: Language Days a boost for Northland’s deaf and hard-of-hearing children
“Here I can be myself.” That’s how 17-year-old Northlander Naomi Ngawati sums up the Language Days (organised by Ko Taku Reo) she’s been attending since she was a child.


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.


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.


2008
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society
Hat: Wellington Deaf Youth Group, 3rd National Deaf Youth Camp, 2008


1981
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: March 1981 (Vol. 18, No. 1)
NZSL Stories

2009
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: July 2009

NZSL Stories

1979
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
Ephpheta: June 1979 (Vol. 2, No. 2)

NZSL Stories

2008
article – Taonga source: Unknown
Signing their way to confidence
Daniel Greenwood of Auckland nimbly negotiates a wall on the Camp David confidence course. Nothing unusual in that, but take a closer look and a second person stands alongside Mr Greenwood using his hands to communicate.

Est. 2003
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Wallace Williams Memorial Trophy – Comedy

NZSL Stories



Est. 1994
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE
Friends for Young Deaf (FYD)
The Friends for Young Deaf (FYD) movement swept through New Zealand when Christoph Blum was appointed as Youth Coordinator in 1994 after training in England in the early 1990s. The theoretical components of leadership were put into practice on a real-time basis, merging with the Kiwi love of camps and outdoor living. Many of today’s young Deaf leaders participated in an FYD camp at some stage of their development.














