1981
video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie
Sign Singers: ‘I Hear Your Hand’
The Sign Singers perform the song 'I Hear Your Hand' for the Stars on Sunday programme.
NZSL Stories
1995
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Communicate: July 1995
NZSL Stories
1981
article – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts
Games Loss ‘A Blow’ For Deaf Team
New Zealand athletes who took part in the World Deaf Games in Cologne arrived home unhappy about losing their bid to host the 1985 Deaf Games in Christchurch.
NZSL Stories
1996
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Communicate: March 1996
NZSL Stories
1981
article – Taonga source: Central Leader
Deaf singers in song
For the last 15 months, the Independent Theatre of the Deaf has performed in venues all over Auckland as the Deaf Sign Singers.
NZSL Stories
2006
video – Taonga source: Dan Hanks
Mardi Gras celebrations
Auckland Deaf Society, about to close for a total building redevelopment, hosts a final social event: a Mardi Gras at the Deaf Club.
NZSL Stories
1986
video – Taonga source: Ngaire Doherty
A ‘Mime and Masks’ show by Deaf Drama Group: A Visit to Kiwiland
A Deaf Drama group perfoms 'A Visit to Kiwiland' at Kelston with supporting acts by the Sign Singers. The evening fundraised $766.00 towards the purchase of a TTY and to sponsor two pupils from Kelston to attend the World Deaf Games in Christchurch 1989.
NZSL Stories
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.
2003
video – Taonga source: DEAFinitely Youth Group
The first Wallace Williams Comedy Evening kicks off!
The first ever Wallace Williams Comedy Evening kicks off in 2003, as a fundraiser for Deaf Youth to attend the WFD Congress in Montreal, Canada.
NZSL Stories
1959
video – Taonga source: Susan Hamilton
Sports Day at Kelston School for the Deaf
The School for Deaf annual sports day is held at Kelston with athletics, long jumping, relay races and performances.
NZSL Stories
2016
publication – Taonga source: Oticon Foundation
Soundscape: March 2016
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.
1989
article – Taonga source: Pam Witko
Second gold to U.S. cyclist
At the basketball, also at Cowles Stadium, the New Zealand women beat Australia, 91-65, to notch the host country's first win in the sport. New Zealand led 45-26 at half-time and is now in the running for the bronze medal.
NZSL Stories
1989
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: Spring 1989 (Vol. 23, No. 3)
NZSL Stories
1955
video – Taonga source: Susan Hamilton
Parent’s Day at Titirangi School for Deaf (1955)
Annual Parent’s Day at Titirangi School for Deaf, where students show their parents around the school and put on a performance – tumbling, boxing, puppetry, ball handing and ballet.
NZSL Stories
1998
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Communicate: Spring 1998
1995
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Communicate: December 1995
NZSL Stories
1979
video – Taonga source: Sue Penman
Trans-Tasman Games 1979 – Basketball
The Australian and New Zealand Deaf men play basketball at the Trans-Tasman Games, held at Lincoln College, Canterbury in January 1979.
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.
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.
1964
video – Taonga source: Susan Hamilton
The Governor-General and his wife visits Kelston School for the Deaf
The Governor-General Sir Bernard and Lady Fergusson visited Kelston School for the Deaf on 4 April 1964. They were entertained by swimming and gymnastics display by its deaf pupils.
1969
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: 1969 (Vol. 6, No. 3)
1987
article – Taonga source: The Press
All the world is a stage – for the deaf, too
“Speaking hands, hearing eyes” is the title of an Australian folk song about the deaf. It is also the dictum by which Anne Tweedie lives and why she has started a Theatre for the Deaf.
1959
video – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Te Pakanga O Whau – The Battle of Whau: Drama by Kelston School for the Deaf
The Battle of Whau: a drama by Kelston Deaf students for the opening ceremony of Kelston School for the Deaf, 7th November 1959.
1959
video – Taonga source: Susan Hamilton
Parent’s Day at Kelston School for the Deaf (1959)
Annual Parent’s Day at Kelston School for the Deaf, with rides (horses, fire tank and alike!), performances and end-of-year prizes.
1982
video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie
Sign Singers: ‘Sailing’
The Sign Singers perform the hit song 'Sailing' broadcast on Stars on Sunday in May 1982. Ian Watkins, introduces the group by saying “…and I’m delighted to welcome back to the programme the deaf sign singers.”
NZSL Stories
1965
article – Taonga source: Pam Witko
The Silent Olympics
The team of 17 deaf athletes are farewelled at Kelston School for the Deaf, with official team photos, before leaving for the 10th International Games for the Deaf at Washington D.C.
1985
video – Taonga source: Tony Walton
Opening ceremony of the VX World Games for the Deaf
New Zealand sends 30 athletes to the 15th World Games for the Deaf in Los Angeles, with footage of the opening ceremony. The flagbearer for New Zealand was John Ooteman, with Susie Ovens carrying the kiwi mascot. The Gallaudet Dance Company also put on a performance. Footage shows a fly by with a sign saying ‘WELCOME WORLD GAMES FOR THE DEAF’.
NZSL Stories
Est. 2003
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Wallace Williams Memorial Trophy – Comedy
NZSL Stories
2003
publication – Taonga source: Oticon Foundation
Soundscape: September 2003