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1978
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

Total Communications camp, shown on ‘The South Tonight’

New Zealand's first total communications camp for Deaf children takes place in Tautuku, South Otago.
Television New Zealand Archive
biography
Profile

Elizabeth ‘Maree’ Carroll (QSM)

Maree has given decades of generous service to the community in which she lives. Maree was heavily involved in organising the St Dominic's School for the Deaf school reunions which enabled the school community to remain connected over many decades. Maree was instrumental in establishing the Manawatu Deaf Society, taking a leading role.
1985
article – Taonga source: The Marlborough Express

Future for deaf takes on rosy glow

Deaf job-seekers face seemingly unsurmountable obstacles and prejudice. But a new polytech course promoting positive action is smoothing the way.
1981
article – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Lip service

The producer of News Review explains the innovations and experimentations they have made in creating the programme, specially designed for the hard of hearing.
Wellington Deaf Society
1987-91
video – Taonga source: Susan Thomas

News Review – Montage

A collection of clips from the ‘News Review’ programme 1987-1991.
Susan Thomas
1981
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: March 1981 (Vol. 18, No. 1)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
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.
1985
article – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Overcoming the invisible handicap

It takes only a few minutes in the company of Pat Dugdale to realise that she has a mischievous sense of fun. It’s almost as if she enjoys shocking people and then watching their reaction.
Wellington Deaf Society
1980
article – Taonga source: Education News

“Deaf kids aren’t dumb you know?” 100 Years of Education for the Deaf

Van Asch College, as it will now be known, is no longer a school exclusively for the deaf.
1993
article – Taonga source: City Voice

Deaf viewers ask for a hand

People who can hear as well as see 'Reasonable Doubts' (TV3, 9.50pm Saturdays) might be surprised to learn that Deaf New Zealanders can understand deaf lawyer Tessa Kaufman’s sign language little better than they can. ASL, used by Deaf actor Marlee Matlin, is a foreign language here. My Deaf friends give it the thumbs up. But the failure of television in New Zealand to provide anything in NZSL is described as “a running sore” by Hilary McCormack.
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
1982
article – Taonga source: The Dominion

TVNZ plan deaf service

TVNZ says that several hundred pages of detailed information can be made available and rapidly selected by the viewer. The information ranges from frequently updated news and weather, both national and regional, to travel and consumer and social services media.
1988
article – Taonga source: Pam Witko

‘Review’ team getting ready to report

When the 1400 competitors and officials arrive in Christchurch to take part in the World Games for the Deaf, TVNZ's news programme for the deaf will be ready and waiting. The small staff of the weekly programme "News Review" is being boosted by four journalists to cover the events of the three-week games in January.
Pam Witko
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
1995
publication – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

38th New Zealand Games for the Deaf: Wellington, Labour Weekend 1995

Wellington Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Colleen Norris
  • Ruth Jessep
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
1978
article – Taonga source: The Daily News

Deaf protest TV licences

Fifty deaf people registered a silent protest outside the Auckland Magistrate’s Court yesterday about what they say is the subtle discrimination of New Zealand against deaf people.
biography
Profile

Jennifer Brain (QSM)

Jennifer received the Queens Service Medal in 2007 for services to the New Zealand Deaf Community. She was well known for her leadership with the New Zealand Association for the Deaf. Jennifer became the first Deaf Leadership Tutor promoting community and Deaf youth leadership, before becoming the first Deaf Chief Executive Officer in 1999. Through her work, Jennifer was ahead of her time with the strategic planning of many Deaf community projects including Deaf awareness and Deaf leadership.
2002
publication – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

43rd New Zealand Games for the Deaf: Wellington, 24-28 October 2002

Wellington Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Ruth Jessep
  • Shona McGhie
  • Colleen Norris
  • Tony Walton
1973
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: 1973 (Vol. 10, No. 1)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
  • Pam Croskery
  • Doug Croskery
  • Richard Hay
2004
video – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

St Dominic’s 60th Jubilee

Ex-pupils talk about their memories and tell stories about St Dominic’s at the 60th reunion in Feilding, during Waitangi Weekend in 2004.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
2009
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: March 2009

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Richard Hay
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Cecilia Waitohi
  • John Schischka
  • Doug Croskery
1993
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

Sounds or Silence?

In the early 1990s, due to a breakthrough in technology, cochlear implants were starting to become the norm. The Deaf community worldwide viewed cochlear implants as a device that disregarded the need for access to sign language. Others considered such devices a miracle. In 1993, ‘60 Minutes’ investigated this controversial topic in New Zealand.
Television New Zealand Archive
1987
article – Taonga source: The Dominion

Communicating from a silent world

Jenny Griffiths, the mother of two profoundly deaf children, talks about communicating with them in Total Communication.
van Asch Deaf Education Centre (Ko Taku Reo)
van Asch Deaf Education Centre (Ko Taku Reo)
van Asch Deaf Education Centre (Ko Taku Reo)
Est. 1880
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE

van Asch Deaf Education Centre (Ko Taku Reo)

van Asch Deaf Education Centre (now Ko Taku Reo; formerly Sumner School for the Deaf then van Asch School for the Deaf). The school has a long and illustrious history, with its services covering a huge geographical spread. Established in 1880, van Asch was the oldest special school establishment in New Zealand and also believed to be the oldest fully government funded residential school in the world. van Asch celebrated its 125th Anniversary in 2005. It merged with Kelston Deaf Education Centre to become Ko Taku Reo in 2020.
2004
video – Taonga source: Rūaumoko Komiti

Patrick Thompson’s ‘Te Hēteri’ interview – unedited footage

Unedited footage of Patrick Thompson’s ‘Te Hēteri’ interview at the famed Star Sign Cafe on Auckland’s Dominion Road in 2004.
Rūaumoko Komiti
1985
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: Christmas 1985 (Vol. 8, No. 3)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1991
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: June 1991

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Terry Kane
1995
video – Taonga source: Chris Blum

Friends of Young Deaf (FYD) Explained

FYD Leader Chris Blum explains how the programme works.
Chris Blum
1980
article – Taonga source: Zealandia

Deaf sponsor nun on trip of faith

The Wellington Catholic Deaf Association is sending a Dominican nun to conferences in Hamburg and Manchester.
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
1989
article – Taonga source: The Dominion

Board of trustees accepts extra challenges at school for deaf

Board member Ava Buzzard, who has been deaf since birth, is excited by the chance to have a greater role in a school she has been involved with for many years.
1989
article – Taonga source: The Press

World Games for the Deaf: Wednesday 11 January 1989

A full page update from The Press, on the results from the World Games for the Deaf - Wednesday 11 January. Jumper lands in record books; Tennis moves back outdoors; Handball draws good crowds, U.S. below par in women's basketball, Miller bags two more; Today's programme and Results.
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
1993
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

Spotlight on Pasifika Deaf

Tangata Pasifika visits Kelston Deaf Education Centre and meets with a number of Pasifika Deaf students part of the school’s transition programme, interviewing Rosie Amituanai and her family.
Television New Zealand Archive