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1954
article – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

NEW INSTITUTION AT FEILDING OPENED AND BLESSED

Described by a prominent Palmerston North specialist, Dr A.A. MacGibbon, as a school which compares more than favourably with the latest schools of its type overseas, St. Dominic's School in Feilding for deaf children was officially blessed and opened yesterday afternoon.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
NZSL Stories
  • Patreena Bryan
1978
article – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Shared Benefits at Sumner

Sumner School for Deaf Children has taken an adventurous step by beginning a trial integration of a class of 'hearing' children into the school.
Wellington Deaf Society
1952
video – Taonga source: Susan Hamilton

Where are the deaf children?

This footage appears to be an early attempt in creating an educational filming activity for deaf children at Titirangi School for the Deaf.
Susan Hamilton
NZSL Stories
  • Patreena Bryan
  • John Mansell
1987
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

Parents speak of their fears for the future of St Dominic’s School for Deaf Children

Following the potential closure of St Dominic's, parents express their concerns at a community meeting for their deaf children’s future if they were to be mainstreamed into a local school.
Television New Zealand Archive
2002
video – Taonga source: AUT Visual Languages Section

Memories of Ava Buzzard (2002)

Ava Buzzard talks about life growing up in Christchurch, her hobbies, moving to Auckland as well as her children and their educational upbringing.
AUT Visual Languages Section
NZSL Stories
  • Patreena Bryan
1982
article – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Coping in a hearing world

Rachel Noble and Donna Allen, both 17 and profoundly deaf, talk about their experiences in education.
Wellington Deaf Society
1981
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: June 1981 (Vol. 4, No. 2)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
2023
video – Taonga source: Speak Up Kōrerotia

Speak Up Kōrerotia – Deaf Education in Aotearoa

This special NZSL Week show looks at the history and progression of deaf education in Aotearoa over time, from the oral method of communication taught for decades to the current use and teaching of NZSL. We interview Kay Drew (former teacher at the Van Asch Deaf Education Centre in Christchurch, and a CODA - child of deaf adults) and Sara Pivac Alexander (Te Herenga Waka Victoria University)
Speak Up Kōrerotia
1988
article – Taonga source: Capital Times

Deaf society celebrates anniversary

Wellington Deaf Society secretary, Pat Dugdale, is expecting 200 people from around New Zealand to take part in its 50th anniversary celebrations.
1992
article – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf wing ‘alive and well’

St Dominic's Wing for Deaf Children is alive and well and integrated with St Joseph's School in Feilding, says principal Sister Gemma.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1994
article – Taonga source: City Voice

In the mainstream

Theresa Newson and Maria Griffiths are completely deaf. They are also students at St Catherine's College, Kilbirnie. Their mothers looked at several schools in the Wellington region because they wanted their daughters to stay at home rather than go to Van Asch.
1973
Object – Taonga source: Te Papa Tongarewa, Museum of New Zealand

Teletypewriter (TTY) coupler

Te Papa Tongarewa, Museum of New Zealand
1984
article – Taonga source: Contact

Deaf friends

Deaf people in the Wellington region now have a new organisation, Friends of the Deaf, an umbrella group for all the deaf organisations in the area.
1987
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Journal: December 1987 (Vol. 1 No. 4)

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
1954
article – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Archbishop Opens Feilding School for Deaf Children

Erected at a cost of £68,000 and standing in 23 acres of farmland and gardens, St. Dominic's school for the Deaf, at Feilding, was blessed and officially opened this afternoon by Archbishop T.B. McKeefry, Metropolitan of New Zealand.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
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
2014
article – Taonga source: The Dominion

Fewer Kiwis can use sign language

James Whale can speak as well as any 5-year old but sometimes he lets his hand do the talking. The Wellington boy and his family are among the dwindling number of Kiwis who can use NZSL.
2014
article – Taonga source: The Wellingtonian

A modern tale of two deaf children

Deaf pupil Rahui Lee, 11, leads the year 7 and 8 class in a sign language game of mastermind, in which pupils have to guess a mystery four-digit number by signing.
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.
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
1999
video – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

‘Nothing to See’ – David Molloy

David Molloy, a Deaf priest based in Palmerston North, talks about his life in the church and his second collection of poems in ‘Nothing to See’, published in 1997.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1987
article – Taonga source: Los Angeles Times

Dictionary of Signs: CSUN Gets Book, Gratitude of New Zealand Deaf

The CSUN library is given a copy of 'Introduction to New Zealand Sign Language', the first published dictionary of the native language of New Zealand's 6,000 deaf with 1,200 signs.
1994
article – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Deaf petition to Telecom

Poor access to emergency services for the deaf could result in a death unless some action is taken soon, say advocates for the deaf. A petition has just been launched to ask Telecom to provide a relay service for that deaf people can call for help.
Wellington Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
2016
publication – Taonga source: Deaf Education History Aotearoa NZ

Yearbook: van Asch Deaf Education Centre, 2016

Deaf Education History Aotearoa NZ
1996
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

Deaf Awareness Week 1996

Deaf Awareness Week 1996 begins, with a spotlight on Des Barton, who finds the latest technology in hearing aids a great improvement. Angela Sew Hoy highlights that the week is aiming to raise awareness about Deaf people, their language and culture.
Television New Zealand Archive
1995
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: December 1995

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
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.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1979
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

‘Speaking’ shown on ‘The South Tonight’

Total Communication is promoted on ‘The South Tonight’ by MOACOM, a newly formed influential group.
Television New Zealand Archive
1994
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: October 1994

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
1955
video – Taonga source: Archives New Zealand

National Film Unit visits Sumner School for the Deaf – 75th Jubilee

The National Film Unit visits Sumner School for the Deaf to report on progress in the education of deaf children and to check out the school's 75th Jubilee celebrations.
Archives New Zealand