2022
video – Taonga source: Māori Television
Deaf filmmaker aspires to make TV series in sign language
A turi (deaf) filmmaker hopes to create a TV series entirely in NZSL to showcase the language to the world. Jared Flitcroft (Ngāti Maniapoto) enjoys telling stories from all kinds of people and perspectives but says stories from the Māori deaf community are imperative.
1997
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive
Hunga Turi: Māori Deaf have their first accessible stay on a marae
‘Te Karare’ was present to witness members of the Māori Deaf community have their first accessible stay on Kokohinau marae.
1995
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive
Deaf Blacks’ first ever international match
Holmes’ Jo Malcolm catches up with the Deaf Blacks team at their training in Christchurch in preparation for the first of three upcoming test matches against the visiting Deaf South Africans - the first ever international match for both sides.
NZSL Stories
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.
NZSL Stories
1989
video – Taonga source: Rodney Roberts
Early 1989: News Review of local and world events
News Review segment focusing on New Zealand and world news including the collapse of a New Zealand company ‘Equiticorp’, an accident at a nuclear reactor in USA, Prime Minister David Lange discussing record high unemployment figures, as well as an earthquake in Russia, among other updates.
1987-91
video – Taonga source: Susan Thomas
News Review – Montage
A collection of clips from the ‘News Review’ programme 1987-1991.
Est. 1938
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE
Wellington Deaf Society
Wellington Deaf Society is the heart of the Wellington Deaf Community. Established on 30 July 1938, has moved a couple of times since its formation, from gatherings at people's places, leased halls and buildings, meet-ups at different pubs, to a co-owned building at 17 Bannister Ave, Johnsonville, Wellington – where it is now.
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.
1996
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive
John Rua participates in a taiaha course
John Rua participates in an annual taiaha course and as a participant, he leads a pōwhiri, welcoming the visitors. ‘Te Karere’ visits the course to film John and find out more from his course instructors.
biography
Profile
Hemi Hema (QSM)
Hemi Hema received the Queen’s Service Medal (Q.S.M) in 2012 for his services to the Māori Deaf community. Along with Karen Pointon in the same year, Hemi was the first Māori Deaf person to receive such an honour.
1987
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive
‘Spot On’ visits a Deaf basketball training session
The educational TV series ‘Spot On’, visits a Deaf basketball training session to catch up with Royce Flynn and Megan Mansfield, and understand how the sport is played by Deaf athletes, and controlled by a Deaf referee.
NZSL Stories
1982
article – Taonga source: NZPA
Teletext news service begins
Teletext, TVNZ’s new information service for disabled and general users, will be introduced on February 1. It has cost about $1 million to set up and part of the money came from the 1981 Telethon.
1992
article – Taonga source: Western Leader
Curry case highlights Deaf plight
A television documentary on the plight of a deaf man has spurred the Glen Eden-based New Zealand Association of the Deaf into action. It wants to see the man, wrongly imprisoned for two years, receive compensation for his ordeal.
NZSL Stories
biography
Profile
Susan Hamilton
Susan was a very active sportswoman who loved being involved in the Deaf community, regularly attending all community events. A renowned Deaf golfer who could be found out on the green each Saturday, Susan was also the President of the Deaf Association from 1994 to 1998 and its Patron from 2008 to 2016.
2016
video – Taonga source: Attitude Pictures
NZSL has become an integral part of Coffee Educators
Not long after opening Co-Ed Cafe and the associated training school, Claire Matheson began running courses for students of Newlands College Deaf Unit. NZSL is now used in meetings and training, and they have menus in sign language.
1989
article – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society
Deaf angry at threat facing News Review
Deaf people are angered and disappointed by the threat facing the TV show News Review.
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.
1983
video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie
News Review – Deaf Student on Holiday
News Review features Stephen Leach, an Auckland Deaf student studying at Gallaudet College (now Gallaudet University).
NZSL Stories
1992
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive
NZSL interpreting course begins
The first NZSL interpreting course has recently started in Auckland, being led by Drs. David and Rachel McKee. We take a peek at one of their NZSL classes, and Rachel predicts the areas of work graduates will go into.
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
2010
video – Taonga source: Attitude Pictures
The Berry Family: Part 2
We take you into the home of the Berrys and look at the lives of deaf New Zealanders. Playing poker is one of this family’s favourite pastimes!
NZSL Stories
1997
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive
A kōrero with Riwia Fox, Māori NZSL interpreter
Riwia Fox, an interpreter is interviewed about her work as a trilingual interpreter. At that time, Riwia was one of only two qualified NZSL interpreters in New Zealand who are Māori, with the other being Stephanie Awheto.
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
1996
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive
Patrick Thompson discusses upcoming wānanga for Māori Deaf
Patrick Thompson is interviewed on the ‘Marae’ programme, a bilingual Māori and English language current affairs show, about setting up a wānanga to enable Māori Deaf to access te reo Maori and Tikanga Maori.
2023
video – Taonga source: Māori Television
Mother’s plea to see Aotearoa more sensitive to deaf community
Sign language is one of three official languages of Aotearoa, but Tofi Au’vaa says it's still a struggle educating people about the challenges faced by the deaf community.
1982
video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie
Sign Singers: ‘Harmony’
The Sign Singers perform 'Harmony' broadcast on Stars on Sunday in February 1983. They are introduced in sign language, in one of the first examples of a non-Deaf person signing on prime time television.
NZSL Stories
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.
19990
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: September 1990
NZSL Stories
1982
article – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society
Teletext helps hard of hearing
Television New Zealand has begun experimental transmission aimed at introducing a new service which will improve viewing enjoyment for the hard of hearing. Called Teletext, it is intended for daily transmission by next year.
2013
video – Taonga source: Attitude Pictures
Young and Deaf: Dean’s Story
Dean Buckley is a young Deaf man on a mission. Only eighteen years old, Dean's already experienced a great deal of adversity, and now he's determined to become a leader and advocate for other Deaf teenagers. First up, taking on the challenges of Youth Parliament, representing Deaf MP Mojo Mathers.