1995
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Communicate: February 1995
NZSL Stories
2020
video – Taonga source: Attitude Pictures
Inside Outside: Rachel Berry
Rachel Berry lives with her flatmates in Christchurch, where they’re often out exploring. Three out of four in their house are Deaf, so at home they use NZSL.
1997
video – Taonga source: AUT Visual Languages Section
Memories of Perry Strawson
Perry Strawson entertains with stories and funny tales from his life; what it’s like to enjoy sports and travel as a young Deaf man.
NZSL Stories
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.
2022
article – Taonga source: Stuff
Deaf community to be consulted on NZSL Act but advocate fears they will be ignored
The first NZSL-led consultation to amend current legislation has opened, but advocates fear their advice will be ignored.
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.
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.
1989
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: December 1989
NZSL Stories
biography
Profile
Noeline ‘Patty’ Still (MNZM)
Patty, born 1932, received the M.N.Z.M in 2003 for her involvement in many activities and initiatives within the Deaf community. Patty was recognised for her efforts in promoting NZSL through her teaching of NZSL, and her work raising public awareness via her performances with the Christchurch Silent Singers group.
Est. 1981
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE
News Review
In 1981, TVNZ launched News Review – a 15 minute programme (later extended to half-an-hour). News Review was a summary of major national and international news of the week for all New Zealanders. This programme was produced in Christchurch, and was captioned.
1989
article – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society
Deaf angry at threat facing News Review
Deaf people are angered and disappointed by the threat facing the TV show News Review.
1997
article – Taonga source: NZ Herald
Art of surviving in silence
An interview with Abbie Twiss on World Deaf Awareness Day, and the start of New Zealand's National Deaf Awareness Week. Here, Abbie looks out from her Elam studio. "My thoughts go much faster than I can write."
2003
article – Taonga source: Victoria News, Victoria University of Wellington
NZSL dictionary includes te reo Māori
Deaf New Zealanders now have access to te reo Māori vocabulary in the Online Dictionary of NZSL, compiled by Victoria’s Deaf Studies Research Unit.
2011
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
Deaf Southern Star: 2011 (Vol. 33, No. 4)
2016
article – Taonga source: Manawatū Standard
Teaching the deaf since 1973
Teaching for almost 50 years has proved a rewarding career for Terry O'Brien, who has witnessed the development of deaf education. He has seen the transition of deaf education from an emphasis on teaching verbally and through text, to an emphasis on Signed English then NZSL in the 90s.
1992
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Communicate: March 1992
NZSL Stories
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.
2019
article – Taonga source: Stuff
Deaf children need better access to New Zealand Sign Language to close the education gap
Lack of access to interpreters means deaf children are missing out on education. There are about 3600 children in the deaf education system, of which about 96 per cent attend mainstream schools. There are just three NZSL educational interpreters working full time with students, meaning most children were missing out.
1989
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive
The play ‘Children of a Lesser God’
This TV series (Sunday Magazine) looks at some of the projects young people are getting involved in. This clip is about acting in a play about Deaf people, in which Patty Still has been teaching the hearing cast NZSL for their roles.
2011
video – Taonga source: Deaf Aotearoa New Zealand
God Defend New Zealand: New Zealand National Anthem in NZSL, Maori & English
In NZSL with subtitles in Māori and English; created in collaboration with native speakers of NZSL, Māori & English, and sign language linguists from the Deaf community, with the purpose to create a NZSL translation that was true to the meaning behind the Māori & English lyrics.
2023
article – Taonga source: Bay of Plenty Times
Deaf couple use sign language to organise building a new house
A new house build can be a challenging time for a young couple. But Gregory and Victoria Lessing are also deaf, and undertook a house build from scratch using NZSL.
1996
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive
Patrick Thompson discusses upcoming wānanga for Māori Deaf
Patrick Thompson is interviewed on the ‘Marae’ programme, a bilingual Māori and English language current affairs show, about setting up a wānanga to enable Māori Deaf to access te reo Maori and Tikanga Maori.
biography
Profile
Mary Johnson (MNZM)
Mary has contributed to the Deaf community as a hardworking and willing volunteer for over 50 years. She was recognised in the 2010 New Years Honours list when she was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM). She was a founding member of the Otago Deaf Society, where she served as president, and was also a founding member of the Manawatu Deaf Club.
1981
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: December 1981 (Vol. 19, No. 4)
NZSL Stories
1995
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive
Deaf Blacks’ first ever international match
Holmes’ Jo Malcolm catches up with the Deaf Blacks team at their training in Christchurch in preparation for the first of three upcoming test matches against the visiting Deaf South Africans - the first ever international match for both sides.
NZSL Stories
1989
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Journal: December 1989 (Vol. 3, No. 4)
1989
video – Taonga source: Rodney Roberts
News Review covers some difficult topics
Ava Buzzard presents more news in NZSL during the weekly News Review TV show. This segment covered a news report that aired directly after partial coverage of the 16th World Games for the Deaf in Christchurch.
1987
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Journal: April 1987 (Vol. 1, No. 1)
2004
video – Taonga source: Rūaumoko Komiti
Connecting with Māori culture: an interview with Joanne Klaver
Raw footage of an interview with solo mother Joanne Klaver, attempting to connect with a Māori culture she was denied growing up, and one of her two sons, Charles, who is also Deaf.
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE
Aotearoa New Zealand Deaf History: Classroom lesson plans
SignDNA has created six lesson plans that can guide learners through some themes within the archive, such as language change, Deaf gatherings, and Deaf in the media.