
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


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


1985
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: Autumn 1985 (Vol. 22, No. 1)
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.


2007
article – Taonga source: Unknown
Deaf people being left on the outer
A shortage of sign language interpreters means as many as 7700 deaf people are struggling to access services in their communities.
NZSL Stories






COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE
Deaf View conferences
The series of national Deaf View conferences have been organised by Deaf people in New Zealand spanning three decades. Each conference has successfully created a platform for better awareness and understanding of Deaf culture and NZSL language; and nurturing links for a stronger Deaf community at a local, national and international level. They also celebrated the rich achievements and diversity of the Deaf community over the past 30 years as well as often pointing the way forwards, for a better resourced and more empowered Deaf community.


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


1998
video – Taonga source: Kevin and Lynette Pivac
NZ Deaf Rugby Team in Wales
See Hear reports on the New Zealand Deaf Rugby team’s tour of the UK in 1998.



NZSL Stories


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.





1992
article – Taonga source: Nelson Mail
Living in a silent world
This week is Deaf Awareness Week. Nelson Mail reporter interviewed two women from Nelson's deaf community this week: Fliss Maera and Susan Thomas. The Nelson Club has between 25 to 30 members.
NZSL Stories


1984
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: Spring 1984 (Vol. 21, No. 3)
NZSL Stories


1992
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive
New Zealand Police Commissioner considers Deaf access to justice
Two weeks after 'The Remand of Ivan Curry' screens on TV1, Police Commissioner John Jamieson meets with Jennifer Brain to work out better procedures for dealing with Deaf people in custody.






1991
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post
Deaf viewers of TVNZ will have news subtitles
Some Television New Zealand news bulletins are to be subtitled for hard-of-hearing viewers, but no titles are planned for TV3 news.


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.


1989
article – Taonga source: The Press
Twelve sports form busy programme
A summary of each sport featuring in the upcoming VXI World Deaf Games in Christchurch – soccer, table tennis, volleyball, basketball, handball, track and field, wrestling, cycling, swimming and badminton, with New Zealand contenders for medals.
NZSL Stories


2002
video – Taonga source: Kevin and Lynette Pivac
Māori & Pacific Island Deaf play against Japan Deaf Rugby XV
TVNZ’s Marae programme features the friendly game between Deaf Māori & Pacific Island Invitational XV and the Japan Deaf Rugby team. It includes the pre-match team talk with coach Richard Peri, karakia from kaumatua Ivan Tamepo, and discussions with assistant Togia Lanefale. It concludes with highlights of the match which was closely fought but finally won by Japan 20-17.





1987
video – Taonga source: Ngaire Doherty
Using drama as a means of communicating
A group of deaf and hearing-impaired people feature in ‘First Half’, where they “are using drama as a means of communicating”.




1998
article – Taonga source: The Dominion
New Zealand’s first bilingual deaf unit
New Zealand's first official "bilingual" deaf unit attached to a primary school will be opened next week. The unit teaches both NZSL and English. Mr Buchanan, who will head the unit, is one of six deaf teachers teaching the deaf in New Zealand.


1994
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive
A Deafening Silence
A ‘Frontline’ documentary that touches upon an on-going topic - Deaf Education - in the Deaf community, not only in New Zealand but worldwide as well. In 2019, the message remains as familiar as it was twenty-five years ago.






1995
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive
Michael Wi, Māori Deaf
Michael Wi, is profiled on ‘Marae’, where he shares his experience of growing up as Māori Deaf in a paheka-centric education environment, and learning as an adult about tikanga Māori, and marae protocols.






1982
article – Taonga source: AID Magazine
Deaf field officers – their disability is their qualification
In the past 18 months, the NZAD has opened field offices in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington, and hopes soon to establish two more in Nelson and Dunedin.
NZSL Stories


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.






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


NZSL Stories


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


1989
publication – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society
33rd New Zealand Games for the Deaf: Wellington, 19-23 October 1989




NZSL Stories


1989
article – Taonga source: The Press
Interpreters spent year on training
Nearly 90 Christchurch people have spent the last year training to be interpreters at the World Games for the Deaf, with about 50 deaf people teaching the volunteers their language.
NZSL Stories


1978
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
Catholic Deaf Newsletter: April 1978 (Vol. 1, No. 1)





1969
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: 1969 (Vol. 6, No. 2)
NZSL Stories


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.


NZSL Stories


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.


















