HomeAbout SignDNAWhat are our current priorities?

SignDNA greatly values the support of the Deaf community and others in finding relevant material and sharing it with us so that we can include it in our archive for everyone’s enjoyment and learning. We rely on volunteers to help us find culturally valuable items before they are lost forever. While we are open to discussing all material, however we also have priorities for finding material in each main section.

Newspaper articles

We are interested in all newspaper articles about Deaf issues. We can scan these in high quality so please lend us the paper version and we can make a high quality copy. We are also interested to know if you see any other newspaper articles that have already been digitised and are on other websites that we can link to.

Films and videos

We are still desperately seeking films and videos from prior to 1990. In particular the older films are most at risk of disintegration due to their age, meaning the footage is lost forever! Please help us find this material before it is too late.

External videos, articles and documents

Sometimes valuable video material has already been digitised and is on other websites. If you see something you think is interesting please let know and we can arrange a link from SignDNA to that site. Please send us the URL of the video. For videos, we ideally like to have a copy in our own archive, as well as the external videos. This is also because some external videos do not have captions which goes against SignDNA’s philosophy of ensuring the archive material is accessible to Deaf people.

NZSL Stories

NZSL Stories are a great way of explaining Deaf history and bring that past to life! You do not have to be a master storyteller to provide something interesting! Currently, we are seeking:

  • NZSL Stories about items in the archive. If you see a video, photo, article or publication and have a story that can help people understand that item in more detail, we would love to work with you to create a short story giving more information. This helps the archive come alive.

Photographs

Group photographs of Deaf people and events up to 2000, especially those that you see featured in this archive. For example, do you have photographs of:

  • Sports team photos up to 2000.
  • Any major Deaf Club group photos from 1930-2000?
  • The first interpreter graduation ceremony in 1985?

Documents

We are also interested in other documents that do not fit under the above categories, but are still relevant to the Aotearoa New Zealand Deaf community. Currently, we are seeking:

  • Annual reports of Deaf organisations
  • Research related to Deaf people in New Zealand, either physical copies or external links.

Biographies

We currently have a biography page on Deaf leaders who have received formal recognition, either as a life member or Patron of a Deaf organisation; from the monarchy via a Queen’s or King’s Honour, or the Pope. Currently, we are seeking biographies for:

  • Margaret Coutts, NZ Commemorative Medal, 2000.
  • Hilary McCormack, CNZM (New Year Honours List 1998), for services to the deaf community.
  • Ronald Charles Dick, of Dunedin (Queen’s Birthday Honours 2002), for services to the deaf.
  • Karen Pointon, QSM (Queen’s Birthday and Diamond Jubilee Honours 2012), for services to Māori and the deaf community.
  • Rachel Noble, MNZM (Queen’s Birthday Honours 2014), for services to the deaf.
  • Peter Murray, MNZM (Queen’s Birthday Honours 2015), for services to basketball.
  • Victoria Manning, MNZM (New Year Honours 2015), for services to the deaf and disabled communities.
  • Kim Robinson, MNZM (New Years Honours 2020, for services to the deaf community.
  • Josje Lelijveld, MNZM (New Years Honours 2021), for services to the Deaf community and education.
  • Kevin Pivac, ONZM (New Year Honours 2024), for services to the deaf rugby community.

We are also seeking biographies for life members and patrons of the following Deaf organisations and clubs (please note, more will be added in the future and those not listed here will already have their biographies on the archive):

Auckland Deaf Society life members

  • John Schischka
  • Norman Norris
  • Jeff Went
  • Ngaire Doherty
  • Owen Gibbons
  • Raymond Jenkin
  • Ray Whiting
  • Laurie Schischka
  • Sylvia Schischka
  • John Hunt
  • Laura Hunt
  • Kath Smith
  • Wallace Williams
  • Helen Williams
  • Kathleen French
  • John McRae
  • Verna McRae
  • John Oxspring
  • Andrew Steel

Wellington Deaf Society life members

  • Kaz Witko – awarded 2005
  • Pam Witko – awarded 2005
  • Maureen Tompson – awarded 2005
  • Robert Cameron – awarded 2005
  • Alex Jones – awarded 2006
  • Tony Kuklinski – awarded 2013
  • Eric Blum – awarded 2013
  • Pat Dugdale – awarded 2005
  • Janette Smith – awarded TBC
  • Robert Tannahill – awarded 1953
  • Jane Kinnear – awarded 1953
  • John Kinnear – awarded 1953
  • Hayton Williams – awarded 1953
  • Alice Neilson – awarded 1959
  • Hilda Ashley – awarded 1959
  • Douglas Ashley – awarded 1979
  • Raymond Natty – awarded 1982
  • Florrie Burr – awarded 1982
  • Nan Mahoney – awarded 1985
  • Jack Swindale – awarded 1989
  • Mary Rees – awarded 1989
  • Bill Rees – awarded 1994
  • Wilson Barrett – awarded 1997
  • Doreen Howell – awarded 1997
  • Joan Fairbrother – awarded TBC
  • Michael Sullivan – awarded TBC
  • Jean Monk – awarded TBC
  • Toni Rees – awarded TBC

Deaf Society of Canterbury life members

  • Greg Pateman
  • Tom Still
  • Cyril Pruden
  • Jane Kinnear
  • John Bryson
  • John Kinnear
  • Malcolm Ward
  • Margaret Coutts
  • Marshall Bennett
  • Vernon Pope
  • Wrey Jury

Manawatu Deaf Society life members

  • Joan Bailey – awarded 1987
  • Barbara Hazelwood – awarded 1987
  • Phonse Carroll – awarded TBC
  • Keith Gordon – awarded TBC
  • Suzanne Hanson – awarded TBC
  • Gloria Fage – awarded 2022
  • Stephen Jourdain – awarded 2022
  • Annette Hansen – awarded 2023

NZSL Teachers Association life members

  • Shona McGhie
  • David McKee
  • Josje Lelijveld
  • Penny Went
  • Dennis Tod

Deaf Sports New Zealand life members

  • John Hunt
  • Margaret Coutts
  • Shona McGhie
  • Raymond Jenkin

Volunteers are requested to help us with this section. Writing and/or signing a biography can be a little tricky, but if you prefer, we are happy to work with you on these biographies.

Publications

SignDNA is particularly interested in national and regional newsletters. The publications we are particularly interested at this time is:

New Zealand Deaf News

  • New Zealand Deaf News, Vol. 11, No. 1 – 1974
  • New Zealand Deaf News, Vol. 11, No. 2 – 1974
  • New Zealand Deaf News, Vol. 11, No. 4 – 1974
  • New Zealand Deaf News, Vol. 12 – No. 1 – 4 (1975)
  • New Zealand Deaf News, Vol. 14-16 (1976-1980)
  • New Zealand Deaf News, Vol. 19, No. 1, March 1982
  • New Zealand Deaf News, Vol. 19, No. 2, June 1981
  • New Zealand Deaf News, Vol. 19, No. 4
  • New Zealand Deaf News, Vol. 21, No. 4, Summer 1984/85

NFD Journal

  • Copies missing between December 1988 and June 1989
  • NFD Journal, June 1989 (Vol. 3, No. 2)
  • NFD Journal, September 1989 (Vol. 3, No. 3)

Deaf Education Aotearoa New Zealand journal

  • Early 2000s

Deaf Society of Canterbury newsletters

  • The Christchurch Deaf Club (Inc.) Newsletter: May – July 1977
  • Christchurch Deaf Club Newsletter: February – April 1978
  • Christchurch Deaf Club Newsletter: November 1978 – January 1979
  • Christchurch Deaf Club: February – April 1980 newsletter
  • Christchurch Deaf Club Newsletter: May – July 1981
  • Christchurch Deaf Club Newsletter: November 1981 – January 1982
  • Christchurch Deaf Society Newsletter: February – April 1982
  • Christchurch Deaf Society: May – July 1982 newsletter
  • Christchurch Deaf Society: August – October 1982 newsletter
  • The Christchurch Deaf Society (Inc.) Newsletter: February – April 1984
  • Christchurch Deaf Society: May – July 1985 newsletter
  • Christchurch Deaf Society: November 1985 – January 1986 newsletter
  • 1986–1994 (missing newsletters for those years)
  • 1995–1999 (missing newsletters for those years)
  • Deaf Society of Canterbury Combined Newsletter: February 2000
  • Deaf Society of Canterbury: March 2001 newsletter
  • Deaf Society of Canterbury: April 2001 newsletter
  • Deaf Society of Canterbury: May 2001 newsletter
  • Deaf Society of Canterbury: December 2001 – January 2002 newsletter
  • Deaf Society of Canterbury: February 2002 newsletter
  • Deaf Society of Canterbury: March 2002 newsletter
  • Deaf Society of Canterbury: May 2002 newsletter
  • Deaf Society of Canterbury: July 2002 newsletter
  • Deaf Society of Canterbury: August 2002 newsletter
  • Deaf Society of Canterbury: September 2002 newsletter
  • Deaf Society of Canterbury: November 2002 newsletter
  • Deaf Society of Canterbury: December 2002 – January 2003 newsletter
  • DEAFinitely CANterbury News: June 2009 (digital newsletter)
  • DEAFinitely Canterbury News: April 2010 (digital newsletter)
  • DEAFinitely Canterbury News: February 2011 (digital newsletter)
  • DEAFinitely Canterbury News: September 2011 (digital newsletter)
  • Deafinitely Canterbury News: October 2018 (digital newsletter)
  • Deafinitely Canterbury News: October 2021 (digital newsletter)

Wellington Deaf Society newsletters

  • 1948 – April 1981 newsletters
  • May 1982 – October 1982 newsletters
  • March 1983 – April 1983 newsletters
  • June 1983 – July 1983 newsletters
  • December 1983 – March 1983 newsletters
  • April 1984 newsletter
  • June 1984 – August 1984 newsletters
  • March 1985 – August 1985 newsletters
  • August 1986 – September 1986 newsletters
  • November 1986 newsletter
  • September 1988 newsletter
  • December 1988 – January 1989 newsletters
  • May – August 1989 newsletters
  • October – November 1989
  • January – November 1990
  • 1991 newsletters
  • May 1992 newsletter
  • November – December 1993
  • 1994 newsletters
  • 1995 newsletters
  • January 1996 – October 1996 newsletters
  • December 1996 newsletter
  • January – October 1996 newsletters
  • December 1996 newsletter
  • January – October 1996 newsletters
  • January – April 1996 newsletters
  • August 1997 – December 1997 newsletters
  • 1998 newsletters
  • January – March 1999 newsletters
  • May – December 2000 newsletters
  • 2001 – 2004 newsletters
  • January – June 2005 newsletters
  • December 2005 newsletters
  • May – July 2006 newsletters
  • October 2006 newsletter
  • January – February 2006 newsletter
  • April 2007 newsletter
  • July 2007 newsletter
  • December 2007 newsletter
  • February 2009 newsletter
  • October 2009 newsletter
  • February 2011 newsletter
  • July 2011 newsletter
  • October 2011 newsletter
  • December 2011 newsletter
  • March 2012 newsletter
  • July 2012 newsletter
  • July 2017 newsletter
  • September 2017 newsletter

If there are any other publications you feel are relevant to the New Zealand Deaf community, please let SignDNA know!