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.
2022
video – Taonga source: Attitude Pictures
Being Me: Jared Flitcroft
Jared Flitcroft is a filmmaker, a businessman, a family man, and he is Deaf. Despite being fluent in Te Reo and NZSL, Jared faced barriers in the largely hearing-led film industry where so much depended on him hearing and communicating with those around him. Undeterred, he began creating his own inclusive projects.
2015
video – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
History through Young Eyes: Interview with Jeff Went
Jeff Went talks about his involvement with Deaf sports and the 1989 World Deaf Games in Christchurch where he volunteered as an ‘international interpreter’ doing 12 hour days over 12 days!
NZSL Stories
2011
article – Taonga source: Timaru Herald
Deaf call for more interpreters
Christchurch's devastating earthquakes changed the lives of many people. Timaru couple Julie Nielson and Paul O'Donnell could finally turn off their television subtitles thanks to the sign language interpreters who stood beside Christchurch mayor Bob Parker as he addressed the public on a daily basis.
1987
article – Taonga source: Sunday Times
Getting the deaf off their hands
Auckland film-maker Ann Andrews has embarked on a project that Television New Zealand initially regarded as unpalatable last year She is making a film about deaf people. Anne is allowing the deaf to use their first language – sign language.
1989
article – Taonga source: Christchurch Star
More than 1300 involved
About 100 interpreters have been trained in Christchurch over the last year. The classes were organised by the hearing people but the deaf were the teachers. It is only the second time that New Zealand sign language has been taught in this country.
NZSL Stories
1990
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Journal: December 1990 (Vol. 4, No. 4)
NZSL Stories
2005
article – Taonga source: Unknown
First deaf person to serve on jury
Sign language interpreters have made it possible for a deaf Victoria University lecturer to serve on a jury which is believed to be a first for New Zealand.
1987-91
video – Taonga source: Susan Thomas
News Review – Montage
A collection of clips from the ‘News Review’ programme 1987-1991.
1992
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Communicate: September 1992
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.
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
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post
Ivan Curry case has positive spinoff
Some good has resulted from the tragic case of deaf man Ivan Curry who was found not guilty after nearly two years in jail for murder, says the Deaf Association.
NZSL Stories
1987
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive
‘Spot On’ visits a Deaf basketball training session
The educational TV series ‘Spot On’, visits a Deaf basketball training session to catch up with Royce Flynn and Megan Mansfield, and understand how the sport is played by Deaf athletes, and controlled by a Deaf referee.
NZSL Stories
1985
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post
An ear for the deaf
The 600 people in Wellington at last have their own sign interpreter. Rachel Locker was appointed as sign language interpreter for the deaf on Monday.
NZSL Stories
1989
article – Taonga source: NZ Herald
Deaf ‘denied basic rights’ in courts
A fight has begun against a justice system which some deaf people regard as denying them basic human rights.
2014
publication – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society
Absolutely Positively Windy Deaf: September 2014
2016
publication – Taonga source: Oticon Foundation
Soundscape: March 2016
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.
1980
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
Ephpheta: June 1980 (Vol. 3, No. 2)
NZSL Stories
1992
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Communicate: December 1992
2004
video – Taonga source: Rūaumoko Komiti
Patrick Thompson’s ‘Te Hēteri’ interview – unedited footage
Unedited footage of Patrick Thompson’s ‘Te Hēteri’ interview at the famed Star Sign Cafe on Auckland’s Dominion Road in 2004.
2004
article – Taonga source: The Dominion
Sign of the times
Sign language interpreter Rosie Henley translates for the deaf beside Speaker of the House Jonathon Hunt as MPs debate legislation making New Zealand sign language an official language.
1985
video – Taonga source: Victoria University of Wellington
First interpreting course graduation – 1985
The Sign Language Interpreting course graduation ceremony September 1985, after 14 weeks training.
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.
1990
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: Autumn/Winter 1990 (Vol. 24, No. 1)
NZSL Stories
1994
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive
NZ gets 8 more NZSL interpreters from the first AIT Diploma class
The first graduates of the Diploma in NZSL Interpreting course will start working in the community, enabling Deaf people to achieve their rights to access a range of settings and services.
1990
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Journal: March 1990 (Vol. 4, No. 1)
NZSL Stories
1999
video – Taonga source: Rodney Roberts
Rodney’s Deaf Saturday
Rodney Roberts takes us through the typical Saturday of a Deaf Wellingtonian, with the Manawatu Deaf boys playing a game of rugby (and being well beaten 47 to 7), before taking us on a tour through a Wellington Deaf Society event to farewell an international interpreter.
1989
article – Taonga source: The Dominion
Board of trustees accepts extra challenges at school for deaf
Board member Ava Buzzard, who has been deaf since birth, is excited by the chance to have a greater role in a school she has been involved with for many years.