
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.

NZSL Stories


1998
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post
Graduates silent but definitely not joyless
A group of graduating Victoria University students never spoke a word yesterday during the quietest graduation party ever held. The students were New Zealand's first to graduate with a certificate in Deaf studies.


1968
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: Autumn 1968 (Vol. 5, No. 3)
NZSL Stories


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.






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.


2021
video – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society
Wellington Deaf Society: Welcome Home Party!
Wellington Deaf Society finally has a new home, a new Deaf Club! A formal opening on Saturday 24 April 2021 to celebrate its new building since selling its Marion Street building in 2015.




2000
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society
Manawatu Deaf Society Trophy Cabinet: In Memory of Joan Caroline Bailey 1931 – 1997





1987
video – Taonga source: Deaf Society of Canterbury
Social Evening: Wrapping up the 32nd NZ Games for the Deaf
The 32nd New Zealand Games for the Deaf wrapped up with a presentation dinner-and-dance evening at Addington Raceway’s ‘Twiggers’ on Sunday 25th October 1987. A jam-packed evening with plenty of talking, sitting down, a buffet meal, dancing to live music, and group photos, with the venue closing 1.30am!




NZSL Stories


1981
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post
World Deaf Games lost to NZ – but not through Boks
New Zealand was passed over in its bid to host the World Deaf Games in 1985 – but not because of any Springbok tour snub, prominent local sports administrator, Mr Alan Barrett, believes.
NZSL Stories


1991
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: September 1991



NZSL Stories


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.






1973
video – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society
Manawatu Deaf Society’s trip to Mount Ruapehu
Members of the Manawatu Deaf Club and their children take a bus trip to Mt Ruapehu, September 1973 for a fun day.



NZSL Stories


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.




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.




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.






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.




2009
article – Taonga source: Manawatū Standard.
Scott on mission to learn more
Palmerston North's Annette Scott is hoping to learn how to involve more deaf people in sport when she goes to the Deaflympics in Taiwan next week. Scott is going as New Zealand's Chef de Mission in a 13-strong tour party, which includes six athletes.


NZSL Stories


1989
article – Taonga source: The Press
Big sporting event on shoestring budget
The Games will be about the same size as the 1974 sporting extravaganza in Christchurch, the Commonwealth Games. Yet it has been orchestrated on a budget of $700,000 – about one-third of the cost of the opening ceremony planned for the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland.
NZSL Stories


1991
article – Taonga source: NZ Herald
The sounds of silence
Turn the light on, so I can hear what you're saying. It's an old line, but a favourite one among us hearing-impaired people, because it points up how we "hear" with our eyes as surely as blind people "see" with their fingers or their ears.
NZSL Stories


1980
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
Ephpheta: September 1980 (Vol. 3, No. 3)






1988
video – Taonga source: Deaf Society of Canterbury
Black and White Fancy Dress Fundraiser for 1989 WGD Christchurch
The Black and White themed Fancy Dress party at Christchurch Deaf Society on 28th May 1988 was a fundraiser for the World Games for the Deaf. Creative members dressed-up as prisoners, punk rockers, Spanish costume dress with bolero, nuns, waitresses, and rugby league players!




NZSL Stories


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.





NZSL Stories


1964
article – Taonga source: Colleen Norris
Special service as deaf marry
Two totally deaf people were married in the Ruawai Methodist Church on Saturday in a service specially modified for the deaf. Mr Moore had spent many hours modifying the service and consulting with the principal of the School for the Deaf, Dr D. Dale.





NZSL Stories


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.





1976
video – Taonga source: Deaf Society of Canterbury
Christchurch Deaf Club Basketball: Farewell & Awards party
A farewell party and awards evening is hosted by the Christchurch Deaf Club Basketball Club, with awards and prizes given out by Peter Downie.






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.




1968
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Group Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Christchurch Deaf Convention Tour Party, 1968



NZSL Stories


1982
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: October 1982 (Vol. 19, No. 3)
NZSL Stories


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!





1969
article – Taonga source: The Auckland Star
They’re shut out-lonely and deaf
Trevor Fear, Auckland's newly-appointed deaf welfare officer talks about his experiences, the deaf community and their needs.













