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1990
video – Taonga source: Rodney Roberts

Wrap-up Christmas party at Deaf Society of Canterbury

Deaf Society of Canterbury on Armagh Street celebrates the end of 1990 with a wrap-up Christmas party, and a few speeches!
Rodney Roberts
1990
article – Taonga source: NZ Listener

That’s the way we sign it

For most of the week, the deaf in New Zealand are shut off from the television communication the rest of us take for granted. But for half an hour each Sunday, they can join the rest of the world, through a special programme called News Review.
1964
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: April 1964

Auckland Deaf Society
2000
video – Taonga source: Dorothy Jones

Black theme fancy dress party at Manawatu Deaf Society!

Members somehow manage to find black clothing in their wardrobes and attend a black themed party at MDS. It is also a special evening to award a life membership to Keith Gordon for his contributions over the years.
Dorothy Jones
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
1984
article – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Mudpools replace ice

Avalanche-free mudpools and geysers have replaced snow and ice for the seven deaf-mute Japanese climbers pulled off Mt Cook on Friday.
Wellington Deaf Society
1954
article – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

NEW ST. DOMINIC’S SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF OPENING IN FEILDING: Over 3000 Attended Ceremony Yesterday

Over 3000 people flocked to St. Dominic's School for the Deaf yesterday afternoon to hear the Catholic Prelate, His Grace Archbishop P.T.B. McKeefry, bless the new building and officially open it.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
2000
video – Taonga source: Dorothy Jones

Christmas speeches and unveiling of trophy cupboard at Manawatu

The MDS Xmas party on 16 December 2000 is an opportunity to reveal its new trophy cupboard at the far left-hand corner of the clubroom.
Dorothy Jones
2009
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: February 2009

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Pam Croskery
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Richard Hay
  • John Schischka
  • Doug Croskery
  • Colleen Norris
  • Kevin Pivac
1998
video – Taonga source: Dorothy Jones

End of Year Celebration and Prizegiving 1998: Manawatu Deaf Society Sports Section

The Manawatu Deaf Society Sports Section celebrates its annual End of Year Prizegiving evening at the Clubrooms, with happy hour, dancing, speeches, raffle prizes at a time when smoking was still allowed inside the clubroom!
Dorothy Jones
2003
video – Taonga source: Dorothy Jones

Auckland’s ‘Deaf Grandmother’ celebrates her 90th at ADS!

Kathleen French, Auckland’s ‘Deaf Grandmother’ and a life member of Auckland Deaf Society celebrates her 90th birthday party at the Balmoral clubroom on 24 May 2003 with approximately 140 people attending.
Dorothy Jones
The Sign Singing Superstars
The Sign Singing Superstars
The Sign Singing Superstars
Est. 1980s
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE

The Sign Singing Superstars

Throughout the early 1980s, the New Zealand Deaf community created two sign singing supergroups: The Sign Singers from Auckland, and The Silent Singers from Christchurch. These two groups pioneered Sign Singing as an art form and gained considerable public admiration for their efforts. Both groups made appearances on national Telethon events, and the Auckland group also were regulars on the Stars on Sunday programme, making more appearances than any other single group.
1960
article – Taonga source: The Auckland Star

A winter treat for the deaf

A group of 44 deaf youngsters from Kelston School for the Deaf take a two-day visit to the Ruapehu snowfields.
1980
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

Specialist in deaf education on NZ visit

From the day a child is diagnosed as being profoundly deaf, he should learn the system of "total communication," advocates Australian educationist Mr Brian Reynolds.
1965
video – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

St Dominic’s gives a Catholic education to Deaf boys and girls

Several clips of teaching and classroom scenes at St Dominic’s School for the Deaf, with one-on-one speech therapy, oral communication methods, a physical education class, the Rotarians Picnic Drive, playing with jet aeroplanes, folk dancing and their annual Christmas party.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1993
video – Taonga source: Hilda Tamepo

John & Laura Hunt’s farewell party

A farewell party is thrown for John and Laura Hunt at the Auckland Deaf Society, prior to their move to Melbourne. The farewell was attended by over 100 members of the Auckland Deaf community.
Hilda Tamepo
2011
article – Taonga source: Stuff

Special votes win deaf MP a seat

Mojo Mathers' rise to Parliament has been labelled a success not just for the Green Party, but also for the New Zealand deaf community.
Stuff
1982
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: October 1982 (Vol. 19, No. 3)

NZSL Stories
  • Terry Kane
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Pam Croskery
  • Shona McGhie
  • John Hunt
  • Jeff Went
  • Susie Ovens
1979
video – Taonga source: Dennis Tod

Old-Time Fancy Dress party, Christchurch 1979

A fancy dress party is held at the Canterbury Deaf Society’s clubrooms.
Dennis Tod
1982
article – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Coping in a hearing world

Rachel Noble and Donna Allen, both 17 and profoundly deaf, talk about their experiences in education.
Wellington Deaf Society
1984
article – Taonga source: NZPA

‘Precedent’ worry in stopping climb

The decision to prevent seven deaf Japanese climbers from tackling Mount Cook had set a dangerous precedent, although many people would think it was the right thing to do.
1954
article – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

School For The Deaf Is £68,000 Addition To Catholic Charities

The new St. Dominic's School for deaf children, which is set in spacious 23-acre grounds and can accommodate between 40 and 50 children, is the only institution for deaf children in New Zealand not operated by the State.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1965
article – Taonga source: Pam Witko

Outfits for Deaf Games

World Deaf Games Chaperon Kath Smith – her husband is the manager and both are also deaf – adjusts swimmer Rossell MacKenzie's hat at a final outfitting in Auckland.
Pam Witko
1979
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: March 1979 (Vol. 2, No. 1)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1964
article – Taonga source: Colleen Norris

Deaf Couple Marry

The bride and groom and three other members of the wedding party were deaf and 30 of the guests had also attended the School for Deaf at Titirangi, where the bridge and groom met. Mr Moore says that although a wedding of a deaf couple was not unusual in Auckland, he thinks it is the first time such a ceremony has taken place in Northland.
Colleen Norris
NZSL Stories
  • Patreena Bryan
  • Colleen Norris
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.
Ko Taku Reo, Deaf Education New Zealand
1950
video – Taonga source: Susan Hamilton

Titirangi School for the Deaf hosts its annual Christmas party

Deaf students dress up and parade around the back of Titirangi School for the Deaf at its annual Christmas party.
Susan Hamilton
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Patreena Bryan
1997
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

First NZ sign language dictionary

'Wellington' and 'All Black' are just two of hundreds of familiar Kiwi terms – such as Milo, Weetbix, pakeha, Maori and marae – described in A Dictionary of New Zealand Sign Language to ve released next week.
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
1965
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: October 1965

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Terry Kane
  • Colleen Norris
  • Michelle Kruger
  • Shirley Bregmen
  • John Mansell
  • John Hunt
1997
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

A kōrero with Riwia Fox, Māori NZSL interpreter

Riwia Fox, an interpreter is interviewed about her work as a trilingual interpreter. At that time, Riwia was one of only two qualified NZSL interpreters in New Zealand who are Māori, with the other being Stephanie Awheto.
Television New Zealand Archive