1985
article – Taonga source: Unknown
Desperate need in N.Z. for interpreters
Qualified interpreters are desperately needed to cope with the needs of deaf people in New Zealand.
NZSL Stories
2006
article – Taonga source: Unknown
NZ sign language becomes official – Capital D for deaf?
The room is full of waving hands and exaggerated facial gestures. Even though the room is silent the dozen women are "talking" with each other just as volubly as if they were having a chinwag. It is a women's only class in New Zealand's latest offical language - NZSL.
2011
article – Taonga source: Capital Times
A sign of communication
It's one of NZ's official languages yet still a mystery to most of us; the sign language used by the Deaf community. As part of Deaf Awareness Week, we asked Kerry Locker-Lampson about being an interpreter.
2004
video – Taonga source: AUT Visual Languages Section
Memories of Ava Buzzard (2004)
Ava Buzzard talks about commuting to school via her father’s motorbike, home signs, signing and oralism, and the next generation of signers.
1996
article – Taonga source: Taranaki Daily News
Lobbying pays off for deaf community
Three years of lobbying for more support has finally borne fruit for the Taranaki deaf community. An office of the Deaf Association opened in New Plymouth this week, to provide needs assessment, information and some interpretation services for deaf people.
NZSL Stories
2000
video – Taonga source: Dorothy Jones
Memories of Keith and Irene Gordon
Memories of Keith and Irene Gordon, recorded on 27 June 2000. They were both foundation members of Manawatu Deaf Society – founded on 7 July 1962. Keith was awarded life membership of Manawatu Deaf Society on 16 December 2000.
NZSL Stories
2004
video – Taonga source: AUT Visual Languages Section
Memories of Shaun Fahey
Shaun Fahey, a Deaf artist, talks about illustrating signs for the NZSL Dictionary, and what life was like for a young Shaun growing up in Christchurch under the rule of oralism.
NZSL Stories
2002
video – Taonga source: AUT Visual Languages Section
Memories of Patreena Bryan
Patreena Bryan (also known as Pat, with her sign name being TAP – a play on her name) is filmed at AUT talking to NZSL interpreting students. Married with two sons, Patreena talks about her schooling days at Titirangi and her involvement with the Deaf community.
NZSL Stories
2005
video – Taonga source: AUT Visual Languages Section
Toa Anga Whati Māori
Māori TV's 'Toa Anga Whati Māori' profiles the Deaf Association of New Zealand on its weekly program, interviewing a series of Deaf people in sports (golf, touch rugby, rugby) before touching upon the job of a Deaf Awareness Officer who delivers training throughout New Zealand.
NZSL Stories
1985
article – Taonga source: NZ Herald
Good sign for the deaf
A course to train professional interpreters for the deaf, now being run in Auckland, is the first of its kind in New Zealand.
NZSL Stories
1993
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Communicate: June 1993
NZSL Stories
1985
article – Taonga source: The Marlborough Express
Future for deaf takes on rosy glow
Deaf job-seekers face seemingly unsurmountable obstacles and prejudice. But a new polytech course promoting positive action is smoothing the way.
biography
Profile
Mary Johnson (MNZM)
Mary has contributed to the Deaf community as a hardworking and willing volunteer for over 50 years. She was recognised in the 2010 New Years Honours list when she was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM). She was a founding member of the Otago Deaf Society, where she served as president, and was also a founding member of the Manawatu Deaf Club.
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.
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.
2002
video – Taonga source: Dorothy Jones
Memories of Marlene Rush
Marlene Rush was the 20th Deaf student to enrol at St Dominics School for the Deaf in 1946. Marlene looks back on her life and involvement with the Deaf community.
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.
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.
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.
1982
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
Ephpheta: September 1982 (Vol. 5, No. 2)
1997
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Communicate: Summer 1997
2018
article – Taonga source: Stuff
An ‘inspirational’ deaf teacher is teaching sign language to hearing toddlers
One deaf teacher in south Auckland has inspired several toddlers and their parents to learn sign language.
2016
video – Taonga source: Attitude Pictures
NZSL has become an integral part of Coffee Educators
Not long after opening Co-Ed Cafe and the associated training school, Claire Matheson began running courses for students of Newlands College Deaf Unit. NZSL is now used in meetings and training, and they have menus in sign language.
1989
video – Taonga source: Rodney Roberts
Early 1989: News Review of local and world events
News Review segment focusing on New Zealand and world news including the collapse of a New Zealand company ‘Equiticorp’, an accident at a nuclear reactor in USA, Prime Minister David Lange discussing record high unemployment figures, as well as an earthquake in Russia, among other updates.
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.
1984
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post
Job advertisement: Field officer for the deaf – Wellington
A job advertisement for a field officer for the deaf in Wellington, a resourceful person experienced in Social Work to assist deaf clients and carry out liasion and information work on matters relating to deafness.
NZSL Stories
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
2004
video – Taonga source: AUT Visual Languages Section
Memories of Susan Thomas (2004)
Susan Thomas talks about her many life experiences, love of sports, and what it was like to work on ‘News Review’ as a Deaf presenter in the late 1980s.
NZSL Stories
2019
video – Taonga source: Merge NZ
Interview: Jamie Brown from Merge NZ talks about the impacts and benefits of learning NZSL
Jaime Brown, Merge NZ Co-Director, learned NZSL and didn't just find a language, but a community and a passion. Seecus talks to Jaime about the impacts NZSL has had for her and the benefits of learning sign language.
1981
article – Taonga source: The Dominion
Deaf worker soon calms the nerves
Wellington has a new worker among the deaf. Pat Dugdale, profoundly deaf, has been made field officer by the New Zealand Association of the Deaf. Her job is to provide personal social service help and to liaise with organisations, welfare agencies, commercial institutions and lawyers on behalf of the deaf.
NZSL Stories