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1981
article – Taonga source: The Press

Deaf field officer for Christchurch

A field officer for the deaf, Mr David Chilwell, a former president of the Christchurch Deaf Club, has been appointed in Christchurch as a result of a grant from the Lottery Funds Board.
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • John Hunt
2006
article – Taonga source: Unknown

NZ sign language becomes official – Capital D for deaf?

The room is full of waving hands and exaggerated facial gestures. Even though the room is silent the dozen women are "talking" with each other just as volubly as if they were having a chinwag. It is a women's only class in New Zealand's latest offical language - NZSL.
1987
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

Parents speak of their fears for the future of St Dominic’s School for Deaf Children

Following the potential closure of St Dominic's, parents express their concerns at a community meeting for their deaf children’s future if they were to be mainstreamed into a local school.
Television New Zealand Archive
1997
article – Taonga source: The Dominion

Going in to bat for deaf cricketers

The New Zealand cricket team beat Australia at the Petone Recreation Ground. You would be forgiven for not knowing the match was on. Media coverage, or rather the lack of it, is a major problem for disabled sport.
1982
article – Taonga source: NZ Woman’s Weekly

Mime put to use

Susie Ovens, born 97% deaf, uses mime as one of the many methods to relate to the hearing world. She is also a member of the “Deaf Sign Singers”, a group of 11 deaf people who perform sign language to music.
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Milton Reedy
  • Shona McGhie
2005
article – Taonga source: Unknown

Sights set on cup – Passage to India a thrill for Kiwis

After having the rug pulled from under them four years ago, the New Zealand deaf cricket team heads to India today for the World Cup.
1955
video – Taonga source: Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision

Picnic at Waihora Park Domain

Participants in the Annual Convention of the New Zealand Deaf Societies have a full-day picnic at Waihora Park Domain, in Motukarara with plenty of races!
Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
  • John Mansell
1958
video – Taonga source: Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision

Deaf Societies Sports Convention, Wellington 1958

Deaf Aucklanders make their way down to Wellington in a van for the Labour Weekend sports. Stopping on the way, they prepare for a day of sports and socialising.
Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Shona McGhie
  • John Mansell
  • Tony Walton
1995
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: February 1995

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Patreena Bryan
  • Jeff Went
  • John Mansell
1989
article – Taonga source: Christchurch Star

Medals eyed in 3 events

Four New Zealand deaf athletes are favoured to win medals in swimming, cycling, and badminton. The 112-strong New Zealand team will compete in 11 of the 12 sports.
NZSL Stories
  • Michael Lynch
  • Jeff Went
  • Terry Kane
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Pam Croskery
  • Tony Walton
  • Janet Watt
1983
video – Taonga source: Sue Penman

NZ Deaf Sports Convention, Dunedin 1983

A good crowd gathers to the deep south, Dunedin for the NZ Deaf Sports Convention in 1983.
Sue Penman
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • John Mansell
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Tony Walton
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
1986
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Winter 1986 (Vol. 22. No. 4)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
  • Ruth Jessep
1994
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: March 1994

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
1969
article – Taonga source: Pam Witko

Deaf Runner Hopes Panel Will Listen

The deaf Lynndale athlete is endeavouring to gain selection for the forth coming Deaf Olympics to be held in Yugoslavia in July.
Pam Witko
1993
article – Taonga source: The Press

Cash-strapped deaf school axes jobs

Twenty-three of the 39 residential care staff at van Asch College were made redundant yesterday as a result of Government funding cuts last year.
1995
article – Taonga source: NZ Herald

Signs from the silent world

Deaf students have the right to equal access to tertiary education but who will pay for sign language interpreters?
1995
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

David Loving-Molloy appears on ‘Praise Be’

David Loving-Molloy of the Catholic Deaf Centre in Palmerston North joins Graeme Thomson on ‘Praise Be’ to share his thoughts about Deaf Awareness Week, and the work he does with the Deaf community.
Television New Zealand Archive
1997
article – Taonga source: NZ Herald

There’s no point in bawling them out

When Alan Ovens yells at his sister Susie on the basketball court, she never listens. Quite simply, she can't. Susie Ovens is the captain of the New Zealand women's deaf basketball team.
1985
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: Easter 1985 (Vol. 8, No. 1)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
1961
video – Taonga source: Susan Hamilton

Kelston School for Deaf sends its netball and rugby teams to Russell

Kelston School for Deaf sends its netball and rugby teams to Russell.
Susan Hamilton
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
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
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
1981
article – Taonga source: NZ Woman’s Weekly

Deaf people CAN lead a ‘normal’ life….

– and Val Jillings and her deaf family prove it! This is Deaf Awareness Week – so the Quota Club of Auckland will hold week-long displays, video films and discussions in the city’s Downtown Walkway and Centrecourt.
1977
video – Taonga source: Dennis Tod

Canterbury Annual Deaf Picnic 1977

Members of the Canterbury Deaf community make for a picnic on a lovely day, with tug-o-war and running races.
Dennis Tod
1969
article – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Sole N.Z. entrant for Deaf Games

Coventry was selected as a sole member of the New Zealand team to attend the July Deaf Olympics in Yugoslavia.
Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Terry Kane
  • Milton Reedy
1989
article – Taonga source: NZ Herald

Hurling abuse at these two fellows is an exercise in sheer futility

Basketball referees Peter Murray and Peter Downie are quite used to being accused of being blind. This they ignore. Accusations of deafness are a different matter.
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Shirley Bregmen
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
1976
video – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Understand the Silence: A Silent Documentary about the Silent World of Deafness

This documentary was filmed and edited by Joan Bailey and released in 1976. It covers the preparation and running of the St Dominics Gala Day, as well as Manawatu Deaf Club picnics, and the Manawatu Womens Group.
Manawatu Deaf Society
1999
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

Central wins deaf title hands down

The combined Wellington-Manawatu Central Districts team and the first national deaf cricket tournament in Upper Hutt this week thrashed Canterbury by nine wickets in the final, passing its total of 98 after only 13 of the allocated 50 overs.
1968
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Autumn 1968 (Vol. 5, No. 3)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt