reset filter
1989
article – Taonga source: Christchurch Star

First record falls in swimming

New Zealand swimmers Kathryn Olsson and Anva Cosgrove made their first appearance in the pool in the 100m freestyle. They finished fifth in their respective heats and failed to make the finals.
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Michael Lynch
  • Jeff Went
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.
Television New Zealand Archive
2001
publication – Taonga source: Oticon Foundation

Soundscape: September 2001

Oticon Foundation
1988
article – Taonga source: NZ Woman’s Weekly

They’re naturals for the part

A production this month of the play Children of a Lesser God in Auckland will feature two deaf actors, Bryan Williams and Sheila Gibbons. And the starring role will be played, for the second time, by Gloss actress Miranda Harcourt.
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
1988
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

van Asch students learn street theatre skills from Mr Moon

After Mr Moon has been teaching Van Asch Deaf Education Centre Deaf students street theatre skills, they watch a performance from the Montreal Street Theatre at the New Zealand Festival in Wellington, in preparation for staging their own live performance.
Television New Zealand Archive
1982
video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie

Sign Singers: ‘Oh What a Beautiful Day’

The Sign Singers perform 'Oh What a Beautiful Day' broadcast on Stars on Sunday in February 1983.
Dulcie McKie
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
2023
article – Taonga source: Stuff

Acting experience leaves Deaf teen with another career option

New short film 'The Dining Table' is putting emerging Deaf talent from Aotearoa on to film festival screens. Lucy McKenzie-Bridle, 16, a Wellington Girls’ College student, makes her debut in The Dining Table, playing Ana, a Deaf teenager being raised in a hearing family.
Stuff
1991
article – Taonga source: The Dominion

People Power: Madedra

Madedra, the Manawatu Deaf Drama Group, is putting on a show 'People' which plays at the National Library next Sunday. They have also been invited to perform in the International Festival of Deaf Theatre in Spain but still needed to raise enough money.
1989
article – Taonga source: The Press

Strong medical presence

The 1400 officials and competitors at the World Deaf Games will be well attended by a large group of medical doctors, St John Ambulance officers, physiotherapists, podiatrists and masseurs. Drug and gender tests will also be a part of the workload.
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
2002
video – Taonga source: Dorothy Jones

Auckland Schools for Deaf: 60th Reunion

Weekend celebrations are kickstarted with a Māori Deaf kapa haka group to perform a haka powhiri. Vintage teachers such as Les Bury briefly summarise their experiences of working in Deaf education over the years.
Dorothy Jones
1995
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: July 1995

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
1983
article – Taonga source: NZ Herald

Sign Language Puts The Deaf in Tune

The Deaf Sign Singers have a busy schedule this year with performances throughout the North Island.
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
1980
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Dramatic Club, 1980-81

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
1959
video – Taonga source: Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision

Sumner School for the Deaf Marching Girls

The Deaf Sumner School for the Deaf marching team participate in a marching competition in Auckland, 1958.
Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision
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.
DEAFinitely Youth Group
NZSL Stories
  • Pam Croskery
1998
video – Taonga source: Rae McKie

School for the Deaf Marching Girls reunited 45 years later!

The infamous Deaf Marching Girls reunite 45 years later, with a Friday spent practicing before showing their routine to supporters at van Asch on the Sunday.
Rae McKie
Est. 2003
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Wallace Williams Memorial Trophy – Comedy

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Pam Croskery
1981
video – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Joan Bailey films Deaf performing at the Palmerston North Telethon!

Local Manawatu Deaf people appear on Telethon to sign a song, after Joan Bailey films a range of Deaf people at their workplaces - a welder, spraypainter, seamstress, data entry clerk and joiner.
Manawatu Deaf Society
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.
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.
1981
video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie

Sign Singers perform Silent Night

The Sign Singers perform the famous carol 'Silent Night' for the Stars on Sunday programme.
Dulcie McKie
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
1996
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: March 1996

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
1996
video – Taonga source: Chris Blum

Summer Deaf Youth Camp: Drama Show

Youth campers at the 1996 Summer Deaf Youth Camp in Otaki put on an entertaining evening drama show!
Chris Blum
NZSL Stories
  • Keethan Sundar
1990
article – Taonga source: NZ Herald

Singing and signing

The price in being part of the 600-strong Commonwealth Games opening ceremony choir as they use sign language to sing is evident.
1984
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: June 1984 (Vol. 21, No. 2)

NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Susie Ovens
  • John Hunt
  • Shona McGhie
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.
Margaret Coutts
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Milton Reedy
  • Susie Ovens
  • Pam Croskery
  • Terry Kane
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Jeff Went
2015
video – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

History through Young Eyes: Interview with Susie Ovens

A Tu Kokiri student interviews Susie Ovens on her involvement with the infamous Deaf Sign Singers group.
Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
2000
video – Taonga source: Rodney Roberts

Central Zone holds onto the Shield!

Footage of all three men's games of the 2000 National Deaf Rugby Championships at the Canterbury Rugby League Stadium, combined into one clip. Includes pre-match Deaf cheerleading display.
Rodney Roberts
1984
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: February 1984

NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
  • John Hunt
1993
article – Taonga source: The Guardian

Top Communicator

Local man Lindsay Jones has a national reputation as a skilful storyteller. Unless more people learn sign language, however, that recognition is likely to remain limited mainly to the deaf community.