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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.
Attitude Pictures
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
1988
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: Easter 1988 (Vol. 10, No. 4)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1979
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: June 1979 (Vol. 2, No. 2)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
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.
Deaf Children New Zealand
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!
Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Janet Watt
  • Jeff Went
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.
Attitude Pictures
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
  • Tony Walton
  • John Hunt
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.
The 2nd Asia Pacific Deaf Youth camp
The 2nd Asia Pacific Deaf Youth camp
The 2nd Asia Pacific Deaf Youth camp
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.
Allan Richardson
NZSL Stories
  • Keethan Sundar
Friends for Young Deaf (FYD)
Friends for Young Deaf (FYD)
Friends for Young Deaf (FYD)
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)

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
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.
Dorothy Jones
1981
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: March 1981 (Vol. 4, No. 1)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
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.
DEAFinitely Youth Group
NZSL Stories
  • Keethan Sundar
1981
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: March 1981 (Vol. 18, No. 1)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
1990
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Autumn/Winter 1990 (Vol. 24, No. 1)

NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • John Hunt
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.
Rūaumoko Komiti
2008
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Hat: Wellington Deaf Youth Group, 3rd National Deaf Youth Camp, 2008

Wellington Deaf Society
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.
Mary Johnson
2015
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2015 (Vol. 37, No. 2)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
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.
Allan Richardson
NZSL Stories
  • Keethan Sundar
2017
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Tee Shirt: 4th National Deaf Youth Camp

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Keethan Sundar
2010
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: May 2010

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Colleen Norris
  • John Schischka
  • Ruth Jessep
  • Richard Hay
  • Doug Croskery
  • Terry Kane
  • Cecilia Waitohi
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.
Television New Zealand Archive
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Pam Croskery
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Doug Croskery
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Terry Kane
  • John Schischka
1995
video – Taonga source: Chris Blum

Friends of Young Deaf (FYD) Explained

FYD Leader Chris Blum explains how the programme works.
Chris Blum
Est. 2003
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Wallace Williams Memorial Trophy – Comedy

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Pam Croskery
2009
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: May 2009

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Doug Croskery
  • Jonathan Anton
  • John Schischka
  • Colleen Norris
  • Richard Hay
  • Cecilia Waitohi