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.
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.
2014
article – Taonga source: The Wellingtonian
A modern tale of two deaf children
Deaf pupil Rahui Lee, 11, leads the year 7 and 8 class in a sign language game of mastermind, in which pupils have to guess a mystery four-digit number by signing.
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.
1988
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive
van Asch students learn street theatre skills from Mr Moon
After Mr Moon has been teaching Van Asch Deaf Education Centre Deaf students street theatre skills, they watch a performance from the Montreal Street Theatre at the New Zealand Festival in Wellington, in preparation for staging their own live performance.
1998
video – Taonga source: AUT Visual Languages Section
Memories of Susan Thomas (1998)
Susan, born as the only deaf person in a hearing family, talks about the dialect differences in sign between the South Island and the North Island, oralism, moving cities, participating in the Trans-Tasman Games, and meeting her husband, Paul.
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.
Est. 1958
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE
Kelston Deaf Education Centre (Ko Taku Reo)
Kelston Deaf Education Centre (now Ko Taku Reo; previously Kelston School for the Deaf). Kelston was established on a site in Archibald Road in 1958. The school had relocated firstly from Titirangi, then from Mt Wellington. KDEC used to provide education in a range of satellite classes throughout Auckland the upper North Island. Kelston, which also hosts Rūaumoko Marae, merged with van Asch Deaf Education Centre to become Ko Taku Reo in 2020.
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.
2023
video – Taonga source: Speak Up Kōrerotia
Speak Up Kōrerotia – Deaf Education in Aotearoa
This special NZSL Week show looks at the history and progression of deaf education in Aotearoa over time, from the oral method of communication taught for decades to the current use and teaching of NZSL. We interview Kay Drew (former teacher at the Van Asch Deaf Education Centre in Christchurch, and a CODA - child of deaf adults) and Sara Pivac Alexander (Te Herenga Waka Victoria University)
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
1980
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Centenary Flag: van Asch College 1880-1980
2002
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post
In full voice
This fascinating book provides insight into a community about which most people are unaware. This is the world of Deaf culture, of Deaf as an identity, not a disability or deficit – Deaf with a capital D.
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.
1987
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive
‘Deaf Book’: First NZSL dictionary makes it to print
Dan Levitt’s work on the first NZSL dictionary in 1985 popularised the name, ‘New Zealand Sign Language’. In this news segment, Dan describes the different between the English Signing System and NZSL.
1991
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Journal: September 1991 (Vol. 5, No. 3)
1988
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Journal: July 1988 (Vol. 2, No. 2)
NZSL Stories
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.
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.
2016
publication – Taonga source: Deaf Education History Aotearoa NZ
Yearbook: van Asch Deaf Education Centre, 2016
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.
1994
publication – Taonga source: Deaf Education History Aotearoa NZ
Yearbook: van Asch College, 1994
1990
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Journal: June 1990 (Vol. 4, No. 2)
NZSL Stories
1993
article – Taonga source: Unknown
Van Asch parents upset at idea of role change
The deaf community in Christchurch is appealing for van Asch College to remain a special school for deaf children, after some parents in Sumner and Redcliffs have suggested it become a secondary school.
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.
2003
publication – Taonga source: Deaf Education Aotearoa New Zealand
Deaf Education Aotearoa New Zealand Journal: Spring 2003
1989
publication – Taonga source: Deaf Education History Aotearoa NZ
Yearbook: van Asch College, 1989
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.
1968
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive
Deaf children enjoy a car rally
Children from Sumner School for the Deaf test their navigational abilities in a car rally at Sumner.
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
