


Est. 1958
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE
Kelston Deaf Education Centre (Ko Taku Reo)
Kelston Deaf Education Centre (now Ko Taku Reo; previously Kelston School for the Deaf). Kelston was established on a site in Archibald Road in 1958. The school had relocated firstly from Titirangi, then from Mt Wellington. KDEC used to provide education in a range of satellite classes throughout Auckland the upper North Island. Kelston, which also hosts Rūaumoko Marae, merged with van Asch Deaf Education Centre to become Ko Taku Reo in 2020.

1985
article – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society
Aussie deaf team here
Almost one hundred Australian athletes will compete in the trans-tasman deaf games to be held in Wellington this weekend.

NZSL Stories

1995
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Plaque: New Zealand Tour 2005 – Australian Deaf Rugby vs Northern Zone Deaf Rugby


1977
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Netball, 1977

NZSL Stories

1989
article – Taonga source: The Press
Games cost drain funds
New Zealand will have to struggle to send a team to the next World Games for the Deaf because of the huge cost of staging the 1989 event which ended at Queen Elizabeth II Park yesterday.
NZSL Stories

1989
video – Taonga source: Rodney Roberts
Early 1989: News Review of local and world events
News Review segment focusing on New Zealand and world news including the collapse of a New Zealand company ‘Equiticorp’, an accident at a nuclear reactor in USA, Prime Minister David Lange discussing record high unemployment figures, as well as an earthquake in Russia, among other updates.


2008
video – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society
3rd National Deaf Youth Camp, 2008
The Wellington Deaf Youth Group organizes the 3rd National Deaf Youth Camp – a five-day camp in Hastings. The theme of the camp is UNITY.

NZSL Stories

1992
video – Taonga source: AUT Visual Languages Section
Memories of John Hunt
John Hunt, well-known for his involvement in the Deaf community – talks about establishing the NZ Deaf News, his journey towards becoming a life member of NZ Deaf Sports Association, having had a role in its founding; working as the first Deaf Field Officer for NZAD, and compiling ‘The Story of the Auckland Deaf Society Inc 1937-1987.

NZSL Stories

2003
publication – Taonga source: Deaf Education Aotearoa New Zealand
Deaf Education Aotearoa New Zealand Journal: Spring 2003

1984
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
Ephpheta: Spring 1984 (Vol. 7, No. 3)


1980s
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society
Athletic Singlet: Manawatu Deaf Society

NZSL Stories

1989
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: Spring 1989 (Vol. 23, No. 3)
NZSL Stories

1989
article – Taonga source: The Dominion
‘Real’ sign language studied
Deaf people have evolved a sophisticated language which is little understood by hearing people and is officially ignored, according to American linguist Marianne Collins-Ahlgren.

1984
article – Taonga source: NZPA
Sir Edmund criticises PM
The New Zealand mountaineer who conquered Mt Everest 30 years ago, Sir Edmund Hillary, has criticised the decision of the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Muldoon, to remove deaf Japanese climbers from Mt Cook.

1983
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: March 1983 (Vol. 20, No. 2)
NZSL Stories

1972
article – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society
Deaf Sports Convention In Wellington Attracts Many Entries
The New Zealand Deaf Amateur Sports Association’s annual convention in Wellington at the weekend has attracted 250 entries from New Zealand and Australia to what is fast becoming a major New Zealand sporting event.

NZSL Stories

2006
video – Taonga source: Ko Taku Reo, Deaf Education New Zealand
NZSL becomes an official language of New Zealand
On 6th April 2006, members of the Deaf community and supporters gathered on the steps of parliament to celebrate the NZSL Bill passing its Third Reading, becoming the NZSL Act (2006). This marked the end of a long journey to give NZSL official status in Aotearoa New Zealand. This footage was screened on TV3 that evening.


1985
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society
Pennant: Central Districts Deaf Sports, Wellington 1985

NZSL Stories

1990
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society
Sash: Miss Deaf Manawatu 1990 Winner


1995
article – Taonga source: NZ Herald
Signs from the silent world
Deaf students have the right to equal access to tertiary education but who will pay for sign language interpreters?

1999
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Framed Pocket Patch: New Zealand, 3rd International Deaf Lawn Bowls Championships – Durban, South Africa


1987
video – Taonga source: Deaf Society of Canterbury
Basketball finals pull in the crowds at the NZ Deaf Games, Christchurch 1987
The popular basketball programme was hosted over two days at Cowles Stadium with footage coverage of the Manawatu and Christchurch ladies competing for the Otago Deaf Society Cup, which Manawatu won (19-15). The winner of the Cunliffe Memorial Cup (men’s) went to Christchurch, with the runner up Wellington (63-56).

NZSL Stories

1998
video – Taonga source: Inside Out
Deaf Blacks players to tour Wales selected at the 1998 National Deaf Rugby Interzonal Championship
The deciding match of the 1998 National Deaf Rugby Interzonal Championship played in Wellington over Easter weekend, and cementing a place in the New Zealand Deaf team that toured Wales in November 1998.

NZSL Stories

1989
article – Taonga source: The Press
Drug-testing at Games
Athletes at the sixteenth World Deaf Games will be randomly tested for drug use. Athletes to be tested would be selected before events by the executive of the Committee of the International Silent Sports (CISS).
NZSL Stories

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.

1978
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
New Zealand Catholic Deaf Newsletter: August 1978 (Vol. 1, No. 2)


1970
article – Taonga source: Evening Standard
Deaf Convention Sports Results
Results from the New Zealand Deaf Convention's sports being held in Palmerston North during Labour Weekend.
NZSL Stories

1992
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society
Souvenir Badge: 36th N.Z. Games for the Deaf

NZSL Stories

1969
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: October 1969 (Vol. 6, No. 4)
NZSL Stories

1965
video – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Washington Xth International Silent Games
The New Zealand team attending the 10th World Deaf Games in Washington, USA, 1965.

















