reset filter
2013
video – Taonga source: Attitude Pictures

Young and Deaf: Dean’s Story

Dean Buckley is a young Deaf man on a mission. Only eighteen years old, Dean's already experienced a great deal of adversity, and now he's determined to become a leader and advocate for other Deaf teenagers. First up, taking on the challenges of Youth Parliament, representing Deaf MP Mojo Mathers.
Attitude Pictures
1964
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Winter 1964 (Vol. 1, No. 4)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
  • John Mansell
1965
article – Taonga source: Pam Witko

The Silent Olympics

The team of 17 deaf athletes are farewelled at Kelston School for the Deaf, with official team photos, before leaving for the 10th International Games for the Deaf at Washington D.C.
Pam Witko
1961
video – Taonga source: Susan Hamilton

Kelston School for Deaf sends its netball and rugby teams to Russell

Kelston School for Deaf sends its netball and rugby teams to Russell.
Susan Hamilton
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
van Asch Deaf Education Centre (Ko Taku Reo)
van Asch Deaf Education Centre (Ko Taku Reo)
van Asch Deaf Education Centre (Ko Taku Reo)
Est. 1880
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE

van Asch Deaf Education Centre (Ko Taku Reo)

van Asch Deaf Education Centre (now Ko Taku Reo; formerly Sumner School for the Deaf then van Asch School for the Deaf). The school has a long and illustrious history, with its services covering a huge geographical spread. Established in 1880, van Asch was the oldest special school establishment in New Zealand and also believed to be the oldest fully government funded residential school in the world. van Asch celebrated its 125th Anniversary in 2005. It merged with Kelston Deaf Education Centre to become Ko Taku Reo in 2020.
biography
Profile

Jennifer Brain (QSM)

Jennifer received the Queens Service Medal in 2007 for services to the New Zealand Deaf Community. She was well known for her leadership with the New Zealand Association for the Deaf. Jennifer became the first Deaf Leadership Tutor promoting community and Deaf youth leadership, before becoming the first Deaf Chief Executive Officer in 1999. Through her work, Jennifer was ahead of her time with the strategic planning of many Deaf community projects including Deaf awareness and Deaf leadership.
1991
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: December 1991

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Janet Watt
  • Tony Walton
1993
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

Sounds or Silence?

In the early 1990s, due to a breakthrough in technology, cochlear implants were starting to become the norm. The Deaf community worldwide viewed cochlear implants as a device that disregarded the need for access to sign language. Others considered such devices a miracle. In 1993, ‘60 Minutes’ investigated this controversial topic in New Zealand.
Television New Zealand Archive
2000
publication – Taonga source: Oticon Foundation

Soundscape: November 2000

Oticon Foundation
1997
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

The modern NZSL dictionary is launched

The modern dictionary of New Zealand Sign Language has been launched, and the 'Tonight' crew visit Kelston Deaf Education Centre to see Deaf students and their NZSL tutors making good use of the resource.
Television New Zealand Archive
1994
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: March 1994

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
1995
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

Michael Wi, Māori Deaf

Michael Wi, is profiled on ‘Marae’, where he shares his experience of growing up as Māori Deaf in a paheka-centric education environment, and learning as an adult about tikanga Māori, and marae protocols.
Television New Zealand Archive
1992
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

New Zealand Police Commissioner considers Deaf access to justice

Two weeks after 'The Remand of Ivan Curry' screens on TV1, Police Commissioner John Jamieson meets with Jennifer Brain to work out better procedures for dealing with Deaf people in custody.
Television New Zealand Archive
1958
video – Taonga source: Susan Hamilton

Rugby Union: Kelston vs St Kentigern College

Kelston School for the Deaf had a rugby team that played in the secondary school Grade 2C division, coming third in the 1958 season. Kelston beat St Kentigern 16 to 0.
Susan Hamilton
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
1977
video – Taonga source: Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision

Outreach Drama Workshop

Written and directed by Kelston School for Deaf Children Standard 3 students, the play depicts a girl's nightmare in which she is abducted by aliens and encounters witches, Frankenstein's Monster and various other creatures.
Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision
biography
Profile

Anthony ‘Tony’ Walton (CNZM)

Tony received the Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2001 for his services to the Deaf community. Tony has had a broad involvement in many areas of the Deaf community, having been President of the NZ Deaf Sports Association and successfully hosting the World Deaf Games in 1989.
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
2017
video – Taonga source: Meghan Coppage

Memories of Susan Hamilton

Susan Hamilton is interviewed by Meghan Coppage, where she recounts a range of experiences from her life. From growing up at a Deaf school, to her memories of time in the Deaf community in bygone days, to seeing the changes at Kelston Deaf Education Centre including the transition to new school building.
Meghan Coppage
2018
article – Taonga source: Stuff

Report reveals uncertainty of future of deaf education

Serious inadequacies of a deaf education board serving thousands of children are being addressed by senior Ministry of Education officials. The ministry confirmed four complaints had been laid about student safety, staffing and low achievement at Auckland's Kelston Deaf Education Centre.
Stuff
biography
Profile

Lynette Pivac (MBE)

In 1996, Lynette was awarded the Member of British Empire for her services in Deaf education and sign language. She mostly initiated the development of NZSL resources, the training of NZSL tutors and involvement in NZSL teaching issues at national level. She advocated for NZSL and Deaf Studies to be introduced into Deaf education and was the first Deaf Board of Trustees Chairperson.
1991
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: April 1991

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
1984
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: February 1984

NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
  • Tony Walton
  • John Hunt
1989
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: April 1989

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Doug Croskery
  • John Mansell
  • Colleen Norris
  • Jeff Went
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
  • Tony Walton
1970
video – Taonga source: Pam and Doug Croskery

Deaf social rugby match: Married vs Single men

An informal annual rugby game between teams of Deaf men, married and single, which was played on one of Kelston Deaf Education Centre’s fields.
Pam and Doug Croskery
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
2019
article – Taonga source: Stuff

New Zealand’s two deaf education centres to merge

New Zealand's two deaf education centres will become one next year as Kelston Deaf Education Centre and van Asch Deaf Education Centre merge from Term 3, 2020.
Stuff
1993
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: March 1993

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
1962
article – Taonga source: The Auckland Star

Seven to make debut at ball for the deaf

Seven young girls will make their debut at a ball to be held by the Auckland Deaf Society; they will dance the debutante walz without hearing the music.
2004
video – Taonga source: Rūaumoko Komiti

Opening of the Advance Centre

The opening of the Advance Centre, a tertiary support centre for Deaf and hearing impaired students in the Auckland region, attended by Hon Ruth Dyson, Minister for Disability Issues, and Patrick Thompson - Māori Deaf leader.
Rūaumoko Komiti
1994
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: June 1994

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
1995
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: September 1995

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • John Mansell
  • Shona McGhie