
1956
video – Taonga source: Victoria University of Wellington
‘Brighten Their Silent World’ float at Auckland Carnival
The Birthday Carnival held annually at Western Springs were a lucrative way of raising money in the early fifties. The Auckland Deaf Society via the Friends of the Deaf were raising funds for a new hall building.

NZSL Stories


1971
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: 1971 (Vol. 8, No. 4)
NZSL Stories


1964
article – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Deaf Folk Conquer their Handicap
On a recent Saturday, I was lucky enough to meet members of the Auckland Deaf Society at a working bee they were holding to improve the grounds of the city's Deaf Welfare Centre. The centre, incidentially, is a very fine building – it has the biggest sports hall in Auckland with a floor area 110 by 60 feet.










NZSL Stories


1956
video – Taonga source: Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision
Auckland Carnival 1956
Friends of the Deaf prepare a float for the Auckland Carnival, 1956, along with some footage of the float parade.








1958
video – Taonga source: Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision
Foundation Stone Ceremony
The foundation stone ceremony for the Auckland Deaf Welfare Centre 1958.






NZSL Stories


1971
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: 1971 (Vol. 8, No. 1)
NZSL Stories


1961
article – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Team for deaf games backed
The Auckland Deaf Society has reversed a previous decision and decided to support the team being sent to the Olympic Games for deaf people in Helsinki in August by the Wellington Deaf Sports Club.












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.


1970
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: 1970 (Vol. 7, No. 2)
NZSL Stories


1984
article – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society
New support group for deaf
The first meeting of the Friends of the Deaf follows a year's work by a steering committee which has laid the groundwork for the future. The meeting will be addressed by Marianne Ahlgren.




1958
video – Taonga source: Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision
Laying foundations at Auckland Deaf Welfare Centre
A group of Deaf men busily work on laying the foundations for the new Auckland Deaf Welfare Centre, later to become the property of the Auckland Deaf Society.






NZSL Stories


1954
video – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Balmoral Working Bee
Deaf members of the Auckland Adult Deaf Society clear the Balmoral Road property before construction of the main hall.










NZSL Stories


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










NZSL Stories


1958
video – Taonga source: Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision
Auckland Deaf Welfare Centre building progress
The building of the Auckland Deaf Welfare Centre, followed by footage of the Balmoral Bowling Club, and the newly opened Auckland Harbour Bridge.






NZSL Stories


2008
video – Taonga source: Brent Macpherson
My Second Home: Auckland Deaf Society
A 43-minute documentary taking you through the history of Auckland Deaf Society, the second home of the Deaf community of Auckland.


NZSL Stories


1958
video – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Auckland Carnival: Friends of the Deaf stall, 1958
The Friends of the Deaf group man a fundraising stall at the Auckland Carnival in Western Springs, Auckland in January 1958.












1965
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: Spring 1965 (Vol. 3, No. 1)
NZSL Stories


1987
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Book: The Story of the AUCKLAND DEAF SOCIETY Inc 1937–1987, Compiled by John M. Hunt










NZSL Stories


1966-67
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: Summer 1966-67 (Vol. 4, No. 2)
NZSL Stories


1968
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: Autumn 1968 (Vol. 5, No. 3)
NZSL Stories


1953
article – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Deaf Institute To Be Started In Auckland Soon
The Friends of the Deaf has paid £3000 for a three-quarter acre site at 166 Balmoral Road and in the new year it will begin to erect there the first permanent institute for deaf adults in New Zealand.










NZSL Stories






Est. 1937
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE
Auckland Deaf Society
Established in 1937, Auckland Deaf Society (ADS) is New Zealand’s largest (and second oldest) Deaf Club. Previously called the 'Auckland Adult Deaf Society' and the 'Deaf Welfare Centre', the club’s original home was at an old shop on 47 Parnell Road in Auckland, before moving to 164 Balmoral Road with enormous support from the 'Friends of the Deaf'. Auckland Deaf Society is now located at 16 Hillsborough Road.


1962
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: August 1962










NZSL Stories


1958
video – Taonga source: Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision
Auckland Easter Show 1958
Fascinating footage from the Auckland Easter show 1958, including brief footage of Deaf visitors to the show.








1979
article – Taonga source: The Press
Veteran journalist dies, 79
Veteran newspaperman Geoffrey Webster died today at 79. He recently had major surgery. About 25 years ago, in association with Mr D.Nathan and two others, he founded the Friends of the Deaf Inc, which today has property in Balmoral Rd, and assets worth more than $2 million.


biography
Profile
Stewart ‘Sen’ Smith (Coronation Medal)
Stewart, or Sen, as he was called – was the president of Auckland Adult Deaf Society from 1947-1954. It was later called the Auckland Deaf Society. The Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.


1969
article – Taonga source: NZ Woman’s Weekly
In A Silent World
Social Welfare Officer and organising secretary of The Friends of the Deaf in Auckland hopes to provide housing via several units to be known as the Eddowes Memorial Village.


1984
article – Taonga source: Southern News
Helping deaf to communicate
There is still much lack of understanding among the general public about the needs of deaf people, says Pat Dugdale, field officer in Wellington for the New Zealand Association of the Deaf.
NZSL Stories


1984
article – Taonga source: Contact
Communication awareness for deaf
Michael May will be three next month, already he has skills, and problems that most of us don't even know about. Fiona May, his mother talks about her experiences which lead her to help form the Wellington Association for Deaf Children.
NZSL Stories


2015
video – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
History through Young Eyes: Interview with Owen Gibbons
Former Auckland Deaf Society President and life member, Owen Gibbons says that one of his best memories was travelling to the World Deaf Games as part of the New Zealand Deaf basketball mens team. His eyes “literally popped out at what he saw over there!”










NZSL Stories












