1997
publication – Taonga source: Deaf Education History Aotearoa NZ
Yearbook: van Asch Deaf Education Centre, 1997
1984
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive
You and Your Child – Deaf edition
'You and Your Child' programme focuses on Deaf children, education and language and interview some parents about their Deaf children.
1993
publication – Taonga source: Deaf Education History Aotearoa NZ
School Magazine: van Asch College, 1993
1998
publication – Taonga source: Deaf Education History Aotearoa NZ
Magazine: van Asch Deaf Education Centre, 1998
2002
video – Taonga source: AUT Visual Languages Section
Memories of Greg Pateman
Greg talks about his passion - Deaf sports, and why the Southern Deaf sport teams are superior to their Central and Northern counterparts!
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.
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
2018
video – Taonga source: Darryl Alexander
The Making of an NZSL Friendly School
The Making of a NZSL Friendly School follows Andre, who began as a new entrant at the school in 2016, and the journey of his teachers, classmates and wider school community in learning NZSL and incorporating it into school curriculum.
1980
video – Taonga source: Dennis Tod
Sumner School for the Deaf celebrates its centenary (100th)
Members of the Deaf community and their families attend the centenary celebrations at Sumner School for the Deaf.
1955
video – Taonga source: Archives New Zealand
National Film Unit visits Sumner School for the Deaf – 75th Jubilee
The National Film Unit visits Sumner School for the Deaf to report on progress in the education of deaf children and to check out the school's 75th Jubilee celebrations.
1985
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
Ephpheta: Christmas 1985 (Vol. 8, No. 3)
2000
video – Taonga source: Hilda Tamepo
Memories of John McRae
John McRae is filmed at his home in Napier where he lived with his wife Verna. John explains some highlights from his life story including his experiences at school, travelling the world for Deaf sports, and his involvement in the Deaf community. The video includes his commentary of various photos and objects in their house.
NZSL Stories
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.
1998
video – Taonga source: Rae McKie
School for the Deaf Marching Girls reunited 45 years later!
The infamous Deaf Marching Girls reunite 45 years later, with a Friday spent practicing before showing their routine to supporters at van Asch on the Sunday.
1955
video – Taonga source: Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision
NZ Deaf Sports Convention 1955 – Christchurch
NZ Deaf Sports Convention is held at Rugby Park, Christchurch in 1955.
NZSL Stories
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.
1991
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Journal: September 1991 (Vol. 5, No. 3)
1994
publication – Taonga source: Deaf Education History Aotearoa NZ
Yearbook: van Asch College, 1994
2003
article – Taonga source: Bay Harbour News
Patty Still – active role model for deaf community
In late July, Woolston grandmother Noeline 'Patty' Still joined a special group of New Zealanders in Wellington for the official presentation of the 2003 Queen's Birthday Honours medals. Patty was there to receive her MNZM for her services to the deaf community.
1980
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: September 1980 (Vol. 17, No. 5)
NZSL Stories
1992
article – Taonga source: The Press
College in crisis
Van Asch College may be forced to cut staffing levels because of funding cuts of almost 50 per cent. The chairman of the Van Asch College board, Mr Alan Bensley, cofnirmed this last night but no "final" decisions had been made.
1998
video – Taonga source: Deaf Aotearoa
‘Inside Out’ interviews Hilary McCormack: Deaf education, advocacy and technology
An ‘Inside Out’ interview with Hilary McCormack where she talks about the advent of NZSL in Deaf education, advocacy and changing technology in the New Zealand Deaf community.
2017
article – Taonga source: Stuff
St Theresa’s School sets example for NZSL friendly schools
A Porirua school is being heralded as a great example of inclusive education. St Theresa's School in Plimmerton is the focus of a new short documentary by van Asch Deaf Education Centre, which will be used as a resource to show how to effectively integrate deaf education and culture into schools.
1999
video – Taonga source: Rae McKie
Deaf Marching Girls at the New Zealand National Marching Championships
The School for the Deaf Marching Girls are invited to perform their routine at the New Zealand National Marching Championships, 45 years after the group was set-up.
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.
2004
article – Taonga source: Education: The Next Level
Spelling it out for deaf people
Three Christchurch College of Computing Students have joined forces to create material to help the Deaf and hearing impaired, as part of their NCEA Level 3 technology studies.
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!
NZSL Stories
1998
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Communicate: Summer 1998
1947
video – Taonga source: Archives New Zealand
National Film Unit visits Sumner School for the Deaf – Student life
The National Film Unit visits Sumner School for the Deaf to film a typical day at the school.
2003
publication – Taonga source: Deaf Education Aotearoa New Zealand