© Copyright 2023
Deaf National Archive New Zealand
Deaf National Archive New Zealand
1980
1990
A documentary about Wellington Deaf Society created after the 50th anniversary of WDS back in 1988. It includes historic shots of the old WDS at 280 Willis Street, Te Aro, as well as interviews with some of its members.
1998
The deciding match of the 1998 National Deaf Rugby Interzonal Championship played in Wellington over Easter weekend, and cementing a place in the New Zealand Deaf team that toured Wales in November 1998.
1982
1999
Wellington Deaf Basketball Club celebrated their 50 years anniversary by competing at the national Deaf Basketball Tournament held over Queen’s Birthday weekend 1999. A range of teams took part - men’s and women’s representing the regions. The games are followed by some celebrations at Wellington Deaf Society.
1989
Coverage from the New Zealand Deaf Games in Wellington 1989, including athletics, long jump, discus, shot-put. The men’s basketball final saw Wellington competing against Christchurch, followed by a closing awards ceremony.
1988
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.
1950
The Government’s National Film Unit follows the City District Health Nurse as she visits students at St Dominic’s School for the Deaf.
1954
Athletes and spectators take a day out from the sporting competition to have fun in Wellington, 1954.
1993
A look behind the scenes at the team creating the modern NZSL dictionary including interviews with Kevin Stokes and Graeme Kennedy.
1992
The Wellington ‘Lions’ Rugby League team assembled at the Randwick Club to welcome their Canterbury opponents. After the match, players and supporters enjoy the Randwick hospitality before moving on to a private venue.
1999
Rodney Roberts takes us through the typical Saturday of a Deaf Wellingtonian, with the Manawatu Deaf boys playing a game of rugby (and being well beaten 47 to 7), before taking us on a tour through a Wellington Deaf Society event to farewell an international interpreter.
2021
Wellington Deaf Society finally has a new home, a new Deaf Club! A formal opening on Saturday 24 April 2021 to celebrate its new building since selling its Marion Street building in 2015.
1953
The 1953 New New Zealand Deaf Sports Convention is held in Christchurch, with sports, fun, and day trips.
1951
A group of Auckland Deaf travel to and from Wellington for the New Zealand Deaf Sports Convention during Labour Weekend, 1951.
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.
1991
The Wellington Deaf rugby league team host their Auckland rivals in Lower Hutt. The match was closely fought!
1993
In the early 1990s, due to a breakthrough in technology, cochlear implants were starting to become the norm. The Deaf community worldwide viewed cochlear implants as a device that disregarded the need for access to sign language. Others considered such devices a miracle. In 1993, ‘60 Minutes’ investigated this controversial topic in New Zealand.
2006
On 6th April 2006, members of the Deaf community and supporters gathered on the steps of parliament to celebrate the NZSL Bill passing its Third Reading, becoming the NZSL Act (2006). This marked the end of a long journey to give NZSL official status in Aotearoa New Zealand. This footage was screened on TV3 that evening.
1980
1988
A day in the life of Gareth Griffiths, a ten year old Deaf boy.
2011
The Wellington Deaf Club is a place where Deaf and hearing alike go to relax, take a break from the ‘outside’ world and communicate in a language that is loud. Jared Flitcroft explores why the Deaf Club is their second home and the cultural aspect of being Deaf in a ‘hearing’ world.
1986
Heather Campbell, a Teacher of the Deaf, talks about the need for Deaf children and their families to have access to language early in life. This episode screened during Deaf Awareness Week in 1986.