reset filter
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.
Attitude Pictures
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!
Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Janet Watt
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
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.
Timaru Herald
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
  • Tony Walton
  • Janet Watt
  • Jeff Went
  • Pam Croskery
1990
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Journal: December 1990 (Vol. 4, No. 4)

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
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.
Susan Thomas
1992
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: September 1992

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
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
  • Tony Walton
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
  • Tony Walton
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.
Television New Zealand Archive
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
  • Susie Ovens
  • Janet Watt
  • John Mansell
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
  • Tony Walton
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

Wellington Deaf Society
2016
publication – Taonga source: Oticon Foundation

Soundscape: March 2016

Oticon Foundation
Deaf View conferences
Deaf View conferences
Deaf View conferences
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)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
1992
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: December 1992

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
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.
Rūaumoko Komiti
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.
Victoria University of Wellington
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
  • Tony Walton
  • John Hunt
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.
Television New Zealand Archive
1990
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Journal: March 1990 (Vol. 4, No. 1)

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
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.
Rodney Roberts
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.