reset filter
2021
article – Taonga source: NZ Herald.

Deaf Northlander Eddie Hokianga urges Māori to turn their hand towards trilingual interpreter roles

Northland sign language tutor Eddie Hokianga has taken up the task of ensuring the region's deaf Māori community is heard. Hokianga (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Porou) has spent the last three years teaching te reo sign language to help fill a national void of interpreters fluent in the discourse.
NZ Herald.
1984-85
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Mini Booklet: NZ and USA sign language alphabet, in preparation for the upcoming XV World Deaf Games 1985

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Terry Kane
  • Susie Ovens
  • Pam Croskery
1988
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Journal: December 1988 (Vol. 2, No. 4)

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
  • Janet Watt
2011
video – Taonga source: Jared Flitcroft

Our Second Home: Wellington Deaf Club

The Wellington Deaf Club is a place where Deaf and hearing alike go to relax, take a break from the ‘outside’ world and communicate in a language that is loud. Jared Flitcroft explores why the Deaf Club is their second home and the cultural aspect of being Deaf in a ‘hearing’ world.
Jared Flitcroft
1991
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

Backchat no problem for lip-reading ref

Deafness has failed to keep John Mansell from a successful career as a rugby league referee. "I know the rule book inside out. If you know the rules and the signals well there's no reason why a referee has to talk."
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
1991
article – Taonga source: The Dominion

Clowning Around

They are all members of Palmerston North-based Madedra (Manawatu Deaf Drama Group). Chilean-born drama tutor, Rolmedo Olmedo reckons he has found in them some of the best mime actors he has ever worked with. "They are so natural," he says.
2018
video – Taonga source: Merge NZ

NZSLTA Hui 2018

The New Zealand Sign Language Teacher's Association Hui in October 2018 was a great weekend of professional development for those that teach, and want to teach NZSL.
Merge NZ
1987
article – Taonga source: Mary Johnson

Getting Message Over For The Deaf

Threading a needle needs a straight eye with a steady hand, which 15-year-old Susan Ovens illustrated through mime at the closing function of Deaf Awareness Week on Sunday. The Deaf Awareness Week function was held in the Downtown complex in Auckland. The Governor General's speech was translated into sign language by the president of the New Zealand Association of the Deaf, Mr B.McHattie. 
Mary Johnson
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
1991
article – Taonga source: The Chronicle

Coping with deafness in a hearing world

Cushla and Brian talk about their lives – being Deaf, their experiences at school, employment, and communication.
2018
video – Taonga source: Deaf Children New Zealand

NZSL and Us: Zenos Tamihana, Auckland

Zenos Tamihana comes from a large, loving family that cares deeply about his communication needs. He is a lively, happy young boy who loves sports and attends Kelston Primary School in Auckland. Zenos has a teacher who is Deaf herself and uses NZSL in class. Zenos thrives at home and at school largely thanks to full access to language and communication.
Deaf Children New Zealand
1993
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

Advanced computer data base backs NZ’s first sign language dictionary

Managing editor Professor Graeme Kennedy said the project had developed the most advanced computer database in the world for analysing and recording sign language.
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
2019
article – Taonga source: Manawatū Standard.

Deaf woman helps others learn sign language over a pint

Candice David was only 3 when she lost her hearing. Now, she's helping others learn her only form of communication, NZSL. Candice was at Palmerston North bar Brew Union on Sunday, offering free NZSL tutorials to all patrons.
Manawatū Standard.
1954
article – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

NEW INSTITUTION AT FEILDING OPENED AND BLESSED

Described by a prominent Palmerston North specialist, Dr A.A. MacGibbon, as a school which compares more than favourably with the latest schools of its type overseas, St. Dominic's School in Feilding for deaf children was officially blessed and opened yesterday afternoon.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
NZSL Stories
  • Patreena Bryan
1998
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: Spring 1998

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
1991
article – Taonga source: The Guardian

Deaf drama group presents NZ first

The Manawatu Deaf Drama Group (MADEDRA) will present a show at Abbey Theatre, before taking it to Auckland for the Deaf View Conference and eventually, hope to travel overseas.
biography
Profile

John Rua (Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal)

John Rua is a Master Carver, a living tohunga in his art. He has carved thousands of stunning artefacts which have been displayed in maraes and museums across the country, including the carving of Te Tira Hou meeting house in Auckland, Ohope Marae in Whatakane and Okains Bay Maori and Colonial Museum in the South Island. His most noticeable achievement was training carvers at the Ngā Hau e Whā National Marae in Christchurch, a project which took 8 years to complete.
1993
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: March 1993

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
1989
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Autumn 1989 (Vol. 23. No. 1)

NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
  • Janet Watt
  • Kevin Pivac
  • John Hunt
  • Pam Croskery
1985
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

Pam and Kaz take life in their stride

Says Pam: “I think for me I live in two worlds and have two languages, the deaf language and the hearing language. I speak the deaf language because I was brought up with it.”
1965
article – Taonga source: The Daily Telegraph

Home – 10-Gallon Hats and All

The New Zealand indoor basketball team at the Deaf Olympics in Washington recently did not win a game. Yet to Napier's Forman brothers, Mervyn and Ray, the experience was one never to be forgotten.
1995
article – Taonga source: Victoria News, Victoria University of Wellington

Black magic hat

Shaun Fahey was wearing the right hat when Black Magic won the America's Cup – but he couldn't throw it in the air to celebrate. His hat is actually a replica of the New Zealand boat, 71cm long and 110cm high, complete with seascape, dolphin, buoy, fish and an array of sponsors' stickers.
2022
article – Taonga source: The Northern Advocate

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori – Māori Language Week: Deaf Northlander Eddie Hokianga

Deaf Northlander Eddie Hokianga was on a troubled trajectory in life until he got his hands on te reo and connected with his Māori culture. Hokianga (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Porou) and Kim Robinson of Deaf Action New Zealand are delivering a groundbreaking initiative in the form of an eight-week course to be held, ideally, across 20 Northland marae.
The Northern Advocate
2022
video – Taonga source: Māori Television

Deaf filmmaker aspires to make TV series in sign language

A turi (deaf) filmmaker hopes to create a TV series entirely in NZSL to showcase the language to the world. Jared Flitcroft (Ngāti Maniapoto) enjoys telling stories from all kinds of people and perspectives but says stories from the Māori deaf community are imperative.
Māori Television
1986
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

Te Aro Deaf students featured in ‘The Video Dispatch’

Heather Campbell, a Teacher of the Deaf, talks about the need for Deaf children and their families to have access to language early in life. This episode screened during Deaf Awareness Week in 1986.
Television New Zealand Archive
2022
article – Taonga source: Stuff

Signing avatar could help Deaf Kiwis order at fast food drive-throughs

Arash Tayebi’s idea to develop sign language avatar technology is personal. And while Kara Technologies is still in the pilot stage, Tayebi hopes the technology will become easier to access as 24/7 teachers or in emergencies.
Stuff
1993
article – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Fun and laughter in imaginative deaf, mime show

The show, from Manawatu Deaf Drama Group Madedra, is at the Globe Theatre on Friday and Saturday. It's an imaginative work created by the seven deaf actors in the group. Settings, props, costumes and make-up are all the work of other members of Madedra. 'City, Country and Sheep' will show the deaf actors' skills.
Manawatu Deaf Society
1989
article – Taonga source: The Press

Interpreters spent year on training

Nearly 90 Christchurch people have spent the last year training to be interpreters at the World Games for the Deaf, with about 50 deaf people teaching the volunteers their language.
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
  • Janet Watt
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.
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
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
2013
publication – Taonga source: Oticon Foundation

Soundscape: March 2013

Oticon Foundation