
2019
video – Taonga source: Attitude Pictures
Using sign language as a family
The Fergusons are an average family of five who have fun, sometimes fight but mostly get along. The main difference is that three of them are deaf, and NZSL is the first language for the whole family. How does this work in a busy household with two teens and a toddler? We spend a few days with the Fergusons and discover it works remarkably well. Especially for the eldest Zoe who is exploring advocating for New Zealand deaf youth.

NZSL Stories


1988
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
Ephpheta: Easter 1988 (Vol. 10, No. 4)







1979
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
Ephpheta: June 1979 (Vol. 2, No. 2)





NZSL Stories


2018
video – Taonga source: Deaf Children New Zealand
NZSL and Us: Jorja Steele, Christchurch
Jorja loves to interact with Deaf students at her age and is a keen surfer. She uses NZSL at home and with both her Deaf and hearing peers. She attends a regular school, but it doesn’t stop her from being able to mingle with Deaf girls at age. Her mother is determined to allow Jorja to have the best of both worlds – Deaf and hearing.




2008
article – Taonga source: Unknown
Signing their way to confidence
Daniel Greenwood of Auckland nimbly negotiates a wall on the Camp David confidence course. Nothing unusual in that, but take a closer look and a second person stands alongside Mr Greenwood using his hands to communicate.


2015
video – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
History through Young Eyes: Interview with Jeff Went
Jeff Went talks about his involvement with Deaf sports and the 1989 World Deaf Games in Christchurch where he volunteered as an ‘international interpreter’ doing 12 hour days over 12 days!






NZSL Stories


2020
video – Taonga source: Attitude Pictures
Inside Outside: Rachel Berry
Rachel Berry lives with her flatmates in Christchurch, where they’re often out exploring. Three out of four in their house are Deaf, so at home they use NZSL.





1981
article – Taonga source: The Dominion
Deaf worker soon calms the nerves
Wellington has a new worker among the deaf. Pat Dugdale, profoundly deaf, has been made field officer by the New Zealand Association of the Deaf. Her job is to provide personal social service help and to liaise with organisations, welfare agencies, commercial institutions and lawyers on behalf of the deaf.
NZSL Stories


biography
Profile
Mary Johnson (MNZM)
Mary has contributed to the Deaf community as a hardworking and willing volunteer for over 50 years. She was recognised in the 2010 New Years Honours list when she was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM). She was a founding member of the Otago Deaf Society, where she served as president, and was also a founding member of the Manawatu Deaf Club.


biography
Profile
Jennifer Brain (QSM)
Jennifer received the Queens Service Medal in 2007 for services to the New Zealand Deaf Community. She was well known for her leadership with the New Zealand Association for the Deaf. Jennifer became the first Deaf Leadership Tutor promoting community and Deaf youth leadership, before becoming the first Deaf Chief Executive Officer in 1999. Through her work, Jennifer was ahead of her time with the strategic planning of many Deaf community projects including Deaf awareness and Deaf leadership.






2002
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE
The 2nd Asia Pacific Deaf Youth camp
The 2nd Asia Pacific Deaf Youth camp (APDYC) was held from 12-19 January 2002 at the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre in Turangi. Altogether, there were 43 Deaf youths from 12 countries, 15 youth leaders, 10 interpreters and a couple of guest speakers present.


1995
video – Taonga source: Allan Richardson
Northern Deaf Youth Camp 1995
Coverage of the participants and activities enjoyed at the 1995 Northern Deaf Youth Camp in Lake Whakamaru, Waikato.



NZSL Stories






Est. 1994
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE
Friends for Young Deaf (FYD)
The Friends for Young Deaf (FYD) movement swept through New Zealand when Christoph Blum was appointed as Youth Coordinator in 1994 after training in England in the early 1990s. The theoretical components of leadership were put into practice on a real-time basis, merging with the Kiwi love of camps and outdoor living. Many of today’s young Deaf leaders participated in an FYD camp at some stage of their development.


1988
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Journal: September 1988 (Vol. 2, No. 3)


NZSL Stories


2002
video – Taonga source: Dorothy Jones
Auckland Schools for Deaf: 60th Reunion
Weekend celebrations are kickstarted with a Māori Deaf kapa haka group to perform a haka powhiri. Vintage teachers such as Les Bury briefly summarise their experiences of working in Deaf education over the years.




1981
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
Ephpheta: March 1981 (Vol. 4, No. 1)







2001
video – Taonga source: DEAFinitely Youth Group
Miss and Mr Deaf New Zealand, 2001
The ‘007’ themed Miss and Mr Deaf New Zealand event, expertly hosted by Victoria Skorikova and Tony Walton was a major fundraising event for the 2nd Asia Pacific Deaf Youth Camp. It was organised in 5 weeks and raised $7,000 towards camp costs.


NZSL Stories


1981
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: March 1981 (Vol. 18, No. 1)
NZSL Stories


1990
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: Autumn/Winter 1990 (Vol. 24, No. 1)
NZSL Stories


2004
video – Taonga source: Rūaumoko Komiti
A Day in the Life of Rūaumoko Marae
Insight into the preparations that go into a powhiri onto Rūaumoko Marae, and rare footage of the powhiri itself, followed by an interview with Patrick Thompson.




2008
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society
Hat: Wellington Deaf Youth Group, 3rd National Deaf Youth Camp, 2008




1984
article – Taonga source: Mary Johnson
New Lynn Lions Club sponsor deaf youths on an exchange overseas
The New Lynn Lions Club has scored a first. The club is the first in the country to sponsor deaf youths on an exchange overseas. It is sending Sally Robertson (19) and Lyndon Malcolm (19), both of Titirangi, to Oregon for about eight weeks.




2015
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
Deaf Southern Star: 2015 (Vol. 37, No. 2)







1995
video – Taonga source: Allan Richardson
Central Deaf Youth Camp 1995
The Central Deaf Youth Camp, as organised by FYD at Palm Grove, Paraparaumu, May 1995.



NZSL Stories


2017
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Tee Shirt: 4th National Deaf Youth Camp






NZSL Stories


2010
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: May 2010






NZSL Stories


1975
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive
The Auckland Deaf Centre
A glimpse into the Auckland Deaf Centre, showing Deaf people playing pool, badminton, reading, having coffee and talking in sign language.


NZSL Stories


1995
video – Taonga source: Chris Blum
Friends of Young Deaf (FYD) Explained
FYD Leader Chris Blum explains how the programme works.




Est. 2003
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Wallace Williams Memorial Trophy – Comedy






NZSL Stories


2009
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: May 2009






NZSL Stories















