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1991
article – Taonga source: Unknown

Signs break the ice

Lower Hutt's Myra Sullivan showing hearing people how to use sign language at a workshop for the deaf held at Wellington College of Education yesterday.
biography
Profile

John Rua (Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal)

John Rua is a Master Carver, a living tohunga in his art. He has carved thousands of stunning artefacts which have been displayed in maraes and museums across the country, including the carving of Te Tira Hou meeting house in Auckland, Ohope Marae in Whatakane and Okains Bay Maori and Colonial Museum in the South Island. His most noticeable achievement was training carvers at the Ngā Hau e Whā National Marae in Christchurch, a project which took 8 years to complete.
1946
article – Taonga source: NZ Tablet

Making the Deaf Hear and the Dumb Speak: The Splendid Work of St. Dominic’s School, Wellington.

Two years ago, the New Zealand Dominicians opened a Catholic school for deaf children at 15 Dover Street, Island Bay, Wellington. The article records the impressions of a Wellington journalist who visited the school recently.
1968
video – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

A Deaf Child in the Family

“A Deaf Child in the Family” is an award-winning film which shows authentic scenes from Deaf education centres at Kelston, St Dominics and Sumner, produced as a resource for families of deaf children.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
2021
article – Taonga source: NZ Herald.

Deaf Northlander Eddie Hokianga urges Māori to turn their hand towards trilingual interpreter roles

Northland sign language tutor Eddie Hokianga has taken up the task of ensuring the region's deaf Māori community is heard. Hokianga (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Porou) has spent the last three years teaching te reo sign language to help fill a national void of interpreters fluent in the discourse.
NZ Herald.
2003
publication – Taonga source: Oticon Foundation

Soundscape: September 2003

Oticon Foundation
1954
article – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

NEW INSTITUTION AT FEILDING OPENED AND BLESSED

Described by a prominent Palmerston North specialist, Dr A.A. MacGibbon, as a school which compares more than favourably with the latest schools of its type overseas, St. Dominic's School in Feilding for deaf children was officially blessed and opened yesterday afternoon.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
NZSL Stories
  • Patreena Bryan
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.
1980
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

Specialist in deaf education on NZ visit

From the day a child is diagnosed as being profoundly deaf, he should learn the system of "total communication," advocates Australian educationist Mr Brian Reynolds.
1989
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Journal: December 1989 (Vol. 3, No. 4)

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
2010
article – Taonga source: Manawatū Standard

Sign language ‘necessity not choice’

Six months after deaf and hearing-impaired children in the region lost their deaf tutor, problems with the teaching of NZSL continue. "NZSL is not a choice, it's a necessity and we have to give these kids a voice," mother Charmaine Strickland said.
2023
article – Taonga source: Bay of Plenty Times

Deaf couple use sign language to organise building a new house

A new house build can be a challenging time for a young couple. But Gregory and Victoria Lessing are also deaf, and undertook a house build from scratch using NZSL.
Bay of Plenty Times
2012
publication – Taonga source: Oticon Foundation

Soundscape: March 2012

Oticon Foundation
1968
article – Taonga source: Mary Johnson

Stool “Talks” to Deaf Yoga Class

When Miss Fay Fenton, who practices at Mt Roskill began teaching Hatha Yoga at the Mt Eden Deaf Welfare Centre, she had to find her own way of expression. Sign language and lipreading were no good when the audience was lying on its back starting at the ceiling, so I had to find some other way to pass on my instructions.
Mary Johnson
1984
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: Autumn 1984 (Vol. 7, No. 1)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1993
video – Taonga source: Deaf Aotearoa

NZAD Newsletter, March 1993

Signed version of the NZAD newsletter in March 1993.
Deaf Aotearoa
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
1991
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Journal: June 1991 (Vol. 5, No. 2)

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
1944
article – Taonga source: NZ Tablet

Catholic Education For Deaf-Mute Children

The story of Catholic Deaf-Mute education, what has been done for deaf students by Dominican Nuns, and the new St. Dominic’s School for Deaf Children in Wellington.
1989
article – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Sign language boost

Research on the complex sign language that deaf New Zealanders have created could push education authorities to recognise the language's authenticity. It has taken an American linguist to document the distinctive language.
Wellington Deaf Society
2019
article – Taonga source: Manawatū Standard.

Deaf woman helps others learn sign language over a pint

Candice David was only 3 when she lost her hearing. Now, she's helping others learn her only form of communication, NZSL. Candice was at Palmerston North bar Brew Union on Sunday, offering free NZSL tutorials to all patrons.
Manawatū Standard.
Aotearoa New Zealand Deaf History: Classroom lesson plans
Aotearoa New Zealand Deaf History: Classroom lesson plans
Aotearoa New Zealand Deaf History: Classroom lesson plans
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE

Aotearoa New Zealand Deaf History: Classroom lesson plans

SignDNA has created six lesson plans that can guide learners through some themes within the archive, such as language change, Deaf gatherings, and Deaf in the media.
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.
Pam Witko
1969
article – Taonga source: NZ Woman’s Weekly

In A Silent World

Social Welfare Officer and organising secretary of The Friends of the Deaf in Auckland hopes to provide housing via several units to be known as the Eddowes Memorial Village.
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.
2013
publication – Taonga source: Oticon Foundation

Soundscape: March 2013

Oticon Foundation
2016
article – Taonga source: Manawatū Standard

Teaching the deaf since 1973

Teaching for almost 50 years has proved a rewarding career for Terry O'Brien, who has witnessed the development of deaf education. He has seen the transition of deaf education from an emphasis on teaching verbally and through text, to an emphasis on Signed English then NZSL in the 90s.
The National Film Unit
The National Film Unit
The National Film Unit
1941-1971
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE

The National Film Unit

From 1941 to 1950, the National Film Unit produced the Weekly Review and from 1952 to 1971, the Pictorial Parade. Government owned, the Unit’s work included visits to schools to show the country positive stories about the future of New Zealand and the good work that was being done. This included visits to Sumner and St Dominic’s School for Deaf Children.
2006
article – Taonga source: NZ Catholic

Deaf community gathers to honour teacher and friend

The deaf community of the lower North Island gathered in Palmerston North on the last weekend of September to honour a teacher and chaplain, mentor and friend who has worked with the deaf since 1972.
1993
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: March 1993

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
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