1977-2017 Contents Logo evolution Vision for theFuture SignLanguage Week Messages Message from theGovernor-General More memories Inaugural Meeting Minutes Memories Timeline Welcome 21 20 18 16 15 14 6 4 2 1 Welcome

There was a lot happening in New Zealand in 1977. The Beehive was officially opened. Fair Go was on TV for the first time. The first Georgie Pie restaurant opened. And the first meeting of the “New Zealand Association of the Deaf” was held. Prime Minister Robert Muldoon sent his apologies! Over the last 40 years our organisation has grown steadily. The first staff member was employed in 1980. Today, Deaf Aotearoa has 14 offices throughout the country, with more than 70 staff providing a wide range of services and support to Deaf people. The organisation has changed its name to Deaf Association of New Zealand and then again to Deaf Aotearoa New Zealand. Through all this, it has always been striving to: create View online at deaf.org.nz/about-us for NZSL video opportunities for Deaf people to achieve their aspirations

We are proud of what we have achieved over the last 40 years, whether it’s providing access to interpreters, supporting Deaf people to find jobs, or the annual celebration of New Zealand Sign Language Week. Here are some highlights from our 40-year journey and a glimpse of our future Deaf community.

Oliver Ferguson Lachlan Keating President Chief Executive

1 Timeline

1977 Inaugural meeting of NZ Association of the 1981 Patron: Governor General Sir Deaf (NZAD) Field Officers employed: First president: Bruce McHattie Christchurch – David Chilwell First Patron: Governor General Sir Keith Wellington – Pat Dugdale Holyoake 1983 First national Deaf Awareness Week 1978 First Deaf Awareness Week in Auckland 1984 President: Ken Jillings 1980 First Field Officer: John Hunt in Auckland 1985 First Deaf President: Gwen Rapley of Taranaki Deaf Society 1977-1986

1987 Manawatu and Hawke’s Bay offices opened 1988 President: Hilary McCormack of Deaf Society of Canterbury

1990 First CEO: Ken Jillings 1991 President: Jennifer Brain of Auckland Deaf Society 1997 CEO: Francesca Holloway Patron: Lady Shirley McKenzie NZSL Dictionary published Deaf View conference in Auckland 1998 President: Tony Walton Hamilton office opened Northland office opened 1992 CEO: Tricia Fitzgerald Southland outreach office opened in 1993 President: Angela Sew Hoy Invercargill First National Māori Deaf Hui at 1999 First Deaf CEO: Jennifer Brain Ōrākei Marae 2001 Talking Hands, Listening Eyes (the Three Māori Councillors elected history of Deaf Association of NZ) 1994 Patron: Lance Cairns published Name change to Deaf Association of 2002 Hosted 2nd Asia Pacific Deaf Youth New Zealand Inc. Camp in Turangi First Māori Deaf Service Coordinator 2004 President: Kevin Stokes in Auckland Deaf View II in Auckland 1995 President: Susan Hamilton First Deaf Short Film Festival 1996 Patron: Judy Bailey 2005 Second National Māori Deaf Hui at Taranaki office opened Ōrākei Marae 2nd Deaf Short Film Festival 2006 CEO: Rachel Noble 1987-1996 Patron: Hilary McCormack NZSL Act – official language status 1997-2006 1985 First training course for NZSL interpreters held by Dan Levitt in Auckland Interpreters appointed to Field Offices in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch 1986 Patron: Governor General Sir Dunedin office opened

2007 President: Kim Robinson 2011 NZFDIC award for Deaf First NZSL Week Access Centres 3rd Deaf Short Film Festival Human Rights Commission Diversity Award for NZSL 2008 iSign launched Week 2009 President: Hemi Hema Interpreters on TV for Name change to Deaf Christchurch earthquakes Aotearoa 5th Deaf Short Film Festival WFD Board visit Deaf 2012 President: Robert Hewison Aotearoa CEO: Lachlan Keating 4th Deaf Short Film Festival 2013 4th National Māori Deaf Hui, 2010 Text 111 service launched Te Kuiti First Deaf Access Centre Deaf View III, Wellington opened in 2014 First Signs launched Deaf Way Report 2015 DAHL restructure 2011 President: Kellye Bensley 2016 President: Oliver Ferguson Patron: Sir Patron: Dame NZSL National Anthem DVD released 10th NZSL Week NZSL Sign Singers at the WFD Board visit Rugby World Cup 2017 5th National Māori Deaf Hui, Northland 2007-2017

3 Memories 5 Inaugural Meeting Minutes

In September 1975, Daniel Beech called Deaf Club leaders and others from around New Zealand to a meeting in Palmerston North. From that meeting, a Working Party was agreed on to establish a national association for Deaf people. A draft constitution was completed in 1976. The New Zealand Association of the Deaf was formed and its inaugural meeting was held on November 19th 1977 in Wellington. View online at deaf.org.nz/about-us for NZSL video A working party had been formed two years before to set up the Association

Prime Minister Robert Muldoon sent his apologies!

Here is the first mention of the aims of the new association. Trained welfare officers, captioning and adult education - still key issues today!

7 Bruce McHattie’s legacy included funds used to purchase the Association’s first National Office in 1990, McHattie House in Auckland

Ken Brain was profiled this year in Northland’s Tiaho Trust’s ‘Getting Out There’ magazine This is still a concern - New Zealand’s Deaf population is still not officially known. John Hunt would go on to be the first Field Officer employed by the Association

Calling for organisations to work together.

9 David Chilwell had asked the Government for TV licence fees to be halved for Deaf people. The meeting identified the need to reduce stigma around Deaf people.

The Minister of Internal Affairs had recommended writing to editors of newspapers to stop the use of the phrase ‘Deaf and Dumb’..

Requests for Government funded equipment to make telephones accessible to Deaf people.

No official interpreters in New Zealand!

11 Querying whether Deaf people qualify for Government disability benefits.

Noted some Deaf people are sent to mental hospitals when they shouldn’t be. Suggestion for specialist Deaf mental health workers.

13 More memories Message from the Governor-General

Message for Deaf Aotearoa

Kia ora koutou.

During my term as Governor-General, I am supporting organisations that work to make our communities stronger and more inclusive, so I appreciate the work of Deaf Aotearoa to ensure access to education and employment for members of the Deaf community.

Your services have become essential to the wellbeing and aspirations of Deaf people, and initiatives such as NZSL week have provided a useful bridge to the wider New Zealand community.

The passing of the New Zealand Sign Language Act in 2006 was cause for celebration, but I appreciate that there is still much work to do to ensure that Deaf people’s rights and aspirations are valued and respected.

Congratulations on having reached the milestone of 40 years of committed advocacy. I wish you all the very best with your work as the voice for Deaf people throughout New Zealand.

The Rt Hon Dame Patsy Reddy, GNZM, QSO Governor-General of New Zealand

15 Messages

We congratulate DANZ on reaching I first joined the NZAD Council, Working with Deaf people for its 40th anniversary. We wish it then the Executive in 1992. It was the first time was an incredible every success for the future. full of older Deaf people who experience. It felt like travelling filled me with awe. Back then, overseas and getting to know a Jennifer Brain the Council had 19 people from foreign culture that I barely knew President 14 affiliated Deaf clubs across existed. What a privilege it was to 1991 – 1993 New Zealand. In 1993, I was the get to know Deaf people and NZSL CEO youngest President of NZAD, which and fight on their side for better 1999-2006 changed to DANZ. It was a time access to the world. of huge change – we faced public I will never forget it and now Deaf service reforms in education, people will always be part of my Ken Brain health and social welfare services life. Founding Member in New Zealand. First Secretary Congratulations Deaf Aotearoa on There are many highlights from 1977 – 1980 your 40th anniversary! that time; NZSL Dictionary project, Better access for Deaf people is FYD leadership training, NZSLTA, coming slowly – too slowly! NFD board, WFD Congress. I remember the first Deaf Māori pōwhiri, wero challenge and Tricia Fitzgerald marae stay for the Council at CEO an AGM in Rotorua – it gave me 1992 – 1997 goosebumps! Kia kaha. Happy 40th birthday, Deaf Aotearoa!

Angela Sew Hoy President 1993 – 1995 My best memory of my time on Congratulations on the 40th Congratulations on your 40th the board was the feeling of all milestone. Anniversary Deaf Aotearoa New being together as Deaf people for I’m glad to see many people who Zealand, formerly Deaf Association the Deaf community and that we played a part in the organisation of New Zealand and New Zealand were all making a difference. are now succeeding in expanding Association of the Deaf, developing One of the highlights of my time and developing further Deaf the Deaf Community throughout as President was attending the community organisations and that period. WFD conference in Brisbane in enterprises. This is a testament July 1999, presenting at the WFD of how far the New Zealand Deaf Hemi Hema Congress and giving gifts to Liisa community has come. President Kauppinen, the WFD President. 2009 – 2011 My second great experience Kim Robinson was attending the first Asia/ President Pacific conference in Thailand. 2007 – 2008 And my third greatest memory is appointing the first Deaf CEO of Deaf Aotearoa I am extremely proud to have been a President of this organisation. To be strong in one’s culture and fluent in one’s own language is a gift all people want. It is precious, unique and I am very proud to be a Deaf man in this world.

Tony Walton President 1998 – 2004

17 New Zealand Sign Language Week

Taster 2007 80 classes

people at

2008 Opening 200 Ceremony

NZSL 2009 1st Awa r d s

2010 Rob Roy tour

I am Deaf. 2011 Let's Talk. Taster 2012 480 classes

First interpreted

2013 Comedy Festival shows

Celebrate. Communicate. 2014 Connect.

7 Signs in 2015 7 Days

CELEBRATE. COMMUNICATE. CONNECT. nzslweek.org.nz 10th Anniversary 2016 of NZSL Act

FOR MORE INFO VISIT Taster NZSLWEEK.ORG.NZ 2017 966 classes

19 Vision for the Future

Executive Board. These provide from Deaf people from around the opportunities for young Deaf world. people to develop their identity Rapidly advancing technology and gain skills, knowledge and can serve to remove barriers and View online at deaf.org.nz/about-us confidence. increase global communication. for NZSL video Deaf Aotearoa also supports Today’s Deaf youth have access representatives attending to a wide range of national and Deaf Aotearoa recognises the World Federation of the Deaf international Deaf role models. importance of investing in young Youth Section camps – children, With young Deaf people working Deaf people, with initiatives junior and senior. Camps are an towards becoming leaders, Deaf like providing a youth service, important and often life-changing Aotearoa looks forward to a bright employing youth interns and opportunity for young Deaf New future. establishing a youth section of the Zealanders to meet and learn Logo evolution

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21 0800 332 322 [email protected] Street address: Level 3, Aviation House deaf.org.nz 12 Johnston Street, Wellington 6011

Postal address: PO Box 25439, Featherston Street, Wellington 6146