The opening of Kelston on a site in Archibald Road featured the infamous ‘Te Pakanga o Whau’ (The Battle of Whau) in 1959 where 86 deaf students acted in an outside play featuring a Māori-Pakeha battle near a big gum tree field. All scripting, action and costume production for the performance on 7 November 1959 was contributed by staff and pupils of the school, achieving an impressive scale of production. All roles were performed by Deaf pupils.
Te Pakanga O Whau – The Battle of Whau: Drama by Kelston School for the Deaf
1959 •
- Deaf Education
- Storytelling/Performances
The Battle of Whau: a drama by Kelston Deaf students for the opening ceremony of Kelston School for the Deaf, 7th November 1959.
Aileen Penney
Alison Gordon
Audrey Simon
Beverly Cross
Billy Paraone
Brenda Hart
Brian Rameka
Carol Liddle
Cissie Mahaki
Colleen Carey
Daphne Te Whata
Diane Craill
Don (Donald) Banks
Elaine Thompson
Eric Pugh
Erica Hadley
Gary Howard
Graeme Forrest
Graham Sargent
Hazel Te Rangi
Helen Brown
Heretama Masters
Hilda Hiestand
Ivan Tamepo
Jacek Nowicki
James McLean
Janet Wilson
Jennifer Martin
Jim McDermott
Jimmy Taaka
Joan Kete
John Eyre
Kathryn Mills
Kay (Kiritai) Hunia
Kerry Gerratty
Laurance Bennett
Lewis Te Huia
Lois Nelson
Madith McCabe
Margaret Greenhalgh
Mihi Walters
Noel Coventry
Noel Fraser
Pao Paul
Pat (Patricia) Oxspring
Patricia Shearer
Peter Downie
Peter Oxspring
Peter Thompson
Phillip Weston
Polly Kahui
Polly Taumaunu
Raewyn Jessen
Rangi Watena
Raymond O’Neill
Rita Pene
Roger Sheffield
Ronny Wiringi
Sam Puhi
Terry (Terence) Bailey
Terry Siviter
Valarie Latham
Walter Heke
Relevant Links
Taonga source:
Auckland Deaf Society
Original format:
3" 8mm
Sponsored by:
Northland Parents of Deaf Children
Reference number:
SignDNA – Deaf National Archive New Zealand, ADS50-01-SP59
Copyright status:
This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Note:
This item has been compressed and/or edited.
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