Deaf sports is the backbone of the New Zealand Deaf community. A time and place for people to get together. Those Deaf sporting events have been videotaped, and have been included here. We hope, over time, as we grow the archive, other sporting events to add.
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1992
Sports Day at Kelston Deaf Education Centre
Kelston Deaf Education Centre hosts its annual sports day, with athletics, swimming and prizegiving.
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1981
New Zealanders at the World Deaf Games in Köln
Footage of the World Deaf Games in Köln, of New Zealanders in action. Two New Zealand athletes won medals at the games.
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1978
23rd Deaf Sports Convention: Auckland vs Christchurch men’s basketball
A packed YMCA hall with supporters watching the Auckland vs Christchurch men’s basketball game.
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2002
Third national Deaf Womens’ Sevens Tournament
The Northern Deaf womens’ team wins the third sevens tournament, comfortably beats Central 60-0 and Southern 34-0. Southern beats Central 34-5.
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1987
Athletics at the 32nd Annual NZ Games for the Deaf: Christchurch 1987
The popular athletics interclub and open championship ran to a tight program, from 8:00am to 12:00 noon. The Oxspring Shield for interclub athletics went to Auckland with 32 points. The 32nd Annual NZ Games for the Deaf in Christchurch provided valuable experience for hosting the World Deaf Games to be held in Christchurch in January 1989. At Cowles Stadium, Shona McGhie and Tony Walton are also interviewed by News Review.
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1978
Christchurch Basketball and Netball teams leave for Greymouth
The Christchurch Deaf Mens Basketball team travel to Greymouth, accompanied by the Deaf netball team.
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1990
Kiwis vs Roos: Deaf Rugby League
Footage of rugby league training, haka practice, game planning, changing room preparations, and actual game footage of all three matches between the Deaf Kiwis and Australian teams, and even a visit to the hospital for an injured Kiwi player!
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1988
First Deaf rugby league game between Australia and New Zealand in Sydney
Historic first rugby league game between New Zealand and Australia, which took place in Sydney 1988 (Henson Park, Newton). Australia won 16–6.
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1990
Australian Deaf Rugby League Team: New Zealand Tour
A homemade Sydney documentary on the Australian Deaf Rugby league team’s tour of New Zealand in 1990 from preparation, the tour, the tests, and triumphant return home.
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1988
Rugby league: NSW Deaf vs New Zealand Deaf Kiwis
As a warm-up in preparation for their upcoming game vs the Australian Deaf rugby league team, the Deaf Kiwis play against the NSW Deaf rugby league team on 4 June 1988. The game was won by NSW, 18–8.
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2001
Manawatu Deaf Netball: 25th Year Jubilee!
The Manawatu Deaf Netball Club celebrates 25 years of netballing adventures in June 2001 with stories, photos and even a cake!
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2000
ADS Basketball Club 50th Jubilee
The Auckland Deaf Society Basketball Club celebrate their ‘Golden’ Anniversary, their 50th anniversary, at the ADS Balmoral clubrooms where people share their memories of being involved in the basketball club.
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1998
First Test: New Zealand Deaf vs Australia Deaf Netball
The grit! The determination! The hours of practice! Finally it’s game day for the first Deaf Netball New Zealand versus Australia in Manawatu. Watch highlights of the gameplay followed by expert post-match analysis and limbo shenanigans at MDS. Good times.
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2003
ADS Badminton Club celebrates its 40th birthday!
The ADS Badminton Club, well known for recognising its milestones, has a well-attended dinner at Auckland Deaf Society to celebrate its 40th birthday!
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1989
News Review: Ready, Set, Go!
Susan Thomas takes the reins at the studio this week on ‘News Review’. The team recaps footage from the World Games of the Deaf which wrapped up on the Tuesday before. Watch records being broken, and some footage of our Kiwi athletes in action!
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1992
Canterbury plays Wellington ‘Lions’ in a close match of rugby league
The Wellington ‘Lions’ Rugby League team assembled at the Randwick Club to welcome their Canterbury opponents. After the match, players and supporters enjoy the Randwick hospitality before moving on to a private venue.
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1989
Edited coverage of Auckland v Canterbury Deaf Rugby League match
Edited coverage of the Auckland v Canterbury Deaf Rugby League match held in Auckland in 1989.
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1991
Canterbury beats Wellington in a game of rugby league
A game of rugby league between the Canterbury and Wellington boys in 1991. The game was played at Hampshire Park, Christchurch on 11 May 1991. Canterbury beat Central, 42-26, followed by a post-match social and further celebrations at Christchurch Deaf Society.
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1989
NZ vs Sweden Men’s Basketball at WGD in Christchurch
Edited crowd-shot footage of the men’s basketball heat at the World Games for the Deaf 1989, between New Zealand and Sweden. Sweden won the match 126-61.
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1989
Christchurch WGD Men’s Basketball Final
Crowd based footage of the Men’s Basketball final at the 1989 World Games for the Deaf in Christchurch, which USA won 127-56. This footage includes the warm up, edited highlights of the match, medal ceremony, team photos, and post-match socialising.
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1998
Deaf Black players to tour Wales selected at the 1998 National Deaf Rugby Interzonal Championship
The deciding match of the 1998 National Deaf Rugby Interzonal Championship played in Wellington over Easter weekend, and cementing a place in the New Zealand Deaf team that toured Wales in November 1998.
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1989
TVNZ coverage of the 16th World Games for the Deaf
Professional coverage of the first few days of sports at the 16th World Games for the Deaf held in Christchurch in January 1989. Events are covered in detail and presented by the News Review weekly round up.
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1989
Handheld footage of the closing ceremony of the 16th World Games for the Deaf
Handheld footage from the stadium shows the closing ceremony of the 16th World Games for the Deaf held in Christchurch. Athletes parade into the stadium to witness closing speeches with their family and fans looking on.
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1989
New Zealand Deaf Games in Wellington 1989
Coverage from the New Zealand Deaf Games in Wellington 1989, including athletics, long jump, discus, shot-put. The men’s basketball final saw Wellington competing against Christchurch, followed by a closing awards ceremony.
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1991
Northern Deaf XV vs Southern Deaf XV
Northern Deaf XV vs Southern Deaf XV held at Linton Military Camp near Palmerston North on 31 March 1991.
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2000
Central Zone holds onto the Shield!
Footage of all three men's games of the 2000 National Deaf Rugby Championships at the Canterbury Rugby League Stadium, combined into one clip. Includes pre-match Deaf cheerleading display.
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1992
Second National Deaf Sevens tournament
The second National Deaf Sevens tournament was held at the Linton Military Camp, located just south of Palmerston North, where the Central boys won a points-based competition.
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1992
The beginnings of Easter Deaf Rugby: Northern Region vs Southern Region
The second game of 15-a-side Deaf rugby tournament in New Zealand: Southern Region seek to avenge their earlier defeat to the Northern Region.
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2000
First National Deaf Womens’ Sevens Tournament
On an Easter Friday afternoon, 22 April 2000, for the first time in history the National Deaf Women’s Seven Tournament was played between the Southern and Central teams at the Canterbury Rugby League Stadium.
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1991
Let the battle begin! Wellington vs Auckland Deaf rugby league at Lower Hutt
The Wellington Deaf rugby league team host their Auckland rivals in Lower Hutt. The match was closely fought!
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1981
Deaf athletes visit Disneyland en route to the World Games for the Deaf in Köln!
New Zealand athletes stopover at Los Angeles on the way to the World Games for the Deaf in Köln, and make the most of the trip with a visit to Disneyland!
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1999
Manawatu Deaf Society’s netball team talk about logistics...
Members of the Manawatu Deaf Society’s netball team discuss the running of the team including fundraising and other logistics. This video is a good example of the natural language used during meetings in 1999 and is presented here unedited for this purpose.
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1979
Trans-Tasman Deaf Games: Opening Ceremony and sports
Coverage of the Trans-Tasman Deaf Games, Lincoln College, Christchurch, 10 January 1979, including opening ceremony and various sports.
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2002
Māori & Pacific Island Deaf play against Japan Deaf Rugby XV
TVNZ’s Marae programme features the friendly game between Deaf Māori & Pacific Island Invitational XV and the Japan Deaf Rugby team. It includes the pre-match team talk with coach Richard Peri, karakia from kaumatua Ivan Tamepo, and discussions with assistant Togia Lanefale. It concludes with highlights of the match which was closely fought but finally won by Japan 20-17.
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1995
Deaf Blacks’ first ever international match
Holmes’ Jo Malcolm catches up with the Deaf Blacks team at their training in Christchurch in preparation for the first of three upcoming test matches against the visiting Deaf South Africans - the first ever international match for both sides.
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1987
'Spot On' visits a Deaf basketball training session
The educational TV series ‘Spot On’, visits a Deaf basketball training session to catch up with Royce Flynn and Megan Mansfield, and understand how the sport is played by Deaf athletes, and controlled by a Deaf referee.
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2002
Amateur footage: Inaugural Deaf Rugby World Championship
A snapshot of the inaugural 2002 Deaf Rugby World Championships held in Auckland, briefly touching on official matches, friendly games, and two social evenings at Auckland Deaf Club, with speeches galore!
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1984
National Sports Convention for the Deaf in Auckland 1984
Jane Dent reports on the National Sports Convention for the Deaf held in Auckland during Labour Weekend in 1984. The footage screened on the 6:30pm news on Saturday 20 October 1984.
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1999
Rodney’s Deaf Saturday
Rodney Roberts takes us through the typical Saturday of a Deaf Wellingtonian, with the Manawatu Deaf boys playing a game of rugby (and being well beaten 47 to 7), before taking us on a tour through a Wellington Deaf Society event to farewell an international interpreter.
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1995
Second test: New Zealand Deaf vs South Africa
The first ever International Deaf Rugby Test Series was held in New Zealand in 1995 between New Zealand and South Africa. South Africa won the series 2-1.
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1998
End of Year Celebration and Prizegiving 1998: Manawatu Deaf Society Sports Section
The Manawatu Deaf Society Sports Section celebrates its annual End of Year Prizegiving evening at the Clubrooms, with happy hour, dancing, speeches, raffle prizes at a time when smoking was still allowed inside the clubroom!
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1989
News Review update on finals at 1989 World Games for the Deaf
News Review presents a round-up of coverage of the 1989 World Games for the Deaf including a feature on a Deaf-blind wrestler, as well as the closing stages of games in the men’s football, volleyball and basketball.
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1981
World Deaf Games, Köln 1981
New Zealand team goes to XIV World Games for the Deaf in Köln, Germany in 1981.
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1976
NZ Deaf Sports Convention, Palmerston North 1976
Footage from the sports, meeting, and socialising at the 21st NZ Deaf Sports Convention, Palmerston North 1976.
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1975
Auckland Netball Club's 1st Birthday
The Auckland Deaf Netball Club runs a social event to celebrate its first anniversary in 1976.
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1954
Socialising at Labour Weekend Wellington 1954
Athletes and spectators take a day out from the sporting competition to have fun in Wellington, 1954.
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1972
Auckland Deaf Men’s Basketball team training
On Auckland’s West Coast, Auckland Deaf basketball men train for the New Zealand Deaf Sports Convention in Wellington 1972.
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1976
NZ Deaf Sports Convention, Palmerston North 1976
The Christchurch team travel to Palmerston North for the NZ Deaf Sports Convention on Labour Weekend, 1976.
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1979
Trans-Tasman Games hosted in Christchurch, 1979
Opening ceremony of the Trans-Tasman Games, Including a traditional Maori welcome for the Australian team.
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1951
Travelling to Wellington for NZ Deaf Sports Convention, 1951
A group of Auckland Deaf travel to and from Wellington for the New Zealand Deaf Sports Convention during Labour Weekend, 1951.
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1989
16th World Games for Deaf - News Review segment
News Review coverage of the 16th World Games for the Deaf in Christchurch 1989.
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1965
Washington Xth International Silent Games
The New Zealand team attending the 10th World Deaf Games in Washington, USA, 1965.
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1952
Arriving for the Deaf Sports Convention in Auckland 1952
Members of the Auckland Deaf community welcome friends and competitors from nationwide for the annual Deaf Sports Convention in Auckland 1952, and take a trip into Auckland City.
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1979
Trans-Tasman Games 1979 - Basketball
The Australian and New Zealand Deaf men play basketball at the Trans-Tasman Games, held at Lincoln College, Canterbury in January 1979.
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1981
NZ Deaf Sports Convention Palmerston North 1981
NZ Deaf Sports Convention hosted by Manawatu Deaf Club in Palmerston North, 1981.
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1979
NZ Deaf Sports Convention, Christchurch 1979 - Netball
Coverage of the Netball tournament at the NZ Deaf Sports Convention, Christchurch 1979.
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1969
Deaf men chat outside Auckland Deaf Society clubrooms
A group of men from the ADS basketball club are seen chatting outside the Auckland Deaf Society Clubrooms.
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2002
Extended version: Deaf Rugby World Cup final - New Zealand vs Wales
Extended version: New Zealand play Wales in the Deaf Rugby World Championship final at Eden Park, Auckland in 2002.
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1972
Open Indoor Bowls Championship for the Deaf, Hamilton 1972
A trip to Hamilton for the 1972 Open Indoor Bowls Championship for the Deaf provides a snapshot of NZ at the time. A road trip, sporting events, and a day out relaxing at various attractions presents what seems to be a fun weekend.
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1970
Deaf social rugby match: Married vs Single men
An informal annual rugby game between teams of Deaf men, married and single, which was played on one of Kelston Deaf Education Centre’s fields.
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1983
NZ Deaf Sports Convention, Dunedin 1983
A good crowd gathers to the deep south, Dunedin for the NZ Deaf Sports Convention in 1983.
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1989
16th World Games for the Deaf, Christchurch
Opening ceremony and events at the 16th World Games for the Deaf, Christchurch 1989.
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1979
NZ Deaf Sport Convention, Christchurch 1979
Scenes from NZ Deaf Sport Convention in Christchurch 1979, with sports such as shot-put and athletics, including some impressive sprinting and middle distance running.
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1977
NZ Deaf Sports Convention, Lower Hutt 1977
Coverage of the Labour Weekend NZ Deaf Sports Convention at Lower Hutt, Wellington in 1977.
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1990
Prizegiving evening: 34th NZ Games for the Deaf (Auckland)
The 34th New Zealand Games for the Deaf, hosted by Auckland, concludes with a prizegiving and social evening at Auckland Deaf Society 1990.
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1981
NZ Deaf Sports Convention, Palmerston North 1981
Interesting footage of the NZ Deaf Sports Convention in Palmerston North, 1981, filmed by Sue Penman.
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1953
NZ Deaf Sports Convention Christchurch 1953
The 1953 New New Zealand Deaf Sports Convention is held in Christchurch, with sports, fun, and day trips.
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1971
16th Annual NZ Deaf Sports Convention, Christchurch
The Manawatu Deaf Club Athletic Team practice with coach Keith Gordon. This footage covers the athletic training session.
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1958
Deaf Societies Sports Convention, Wellington 1958
Deaf Aucklanders make their way down to Wellington in a van for the Labour Weekend sports. Stopping on the way, they prepare for a day of sports and socialising.
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2002
Inside Out: Inaugural World Deaf Rugby Championship
Inside Out features the inaugural World Deaf Rugby Championship, including coverage of the final between New Zealand and Wales at Eden Park, Auckland in 2002.
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2000
ADS Netball Club's 25th Jubilee
The Auckland Deaf Society Netball team celebrates their 25th Jubilee in April, 2000.
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1989
Deafblind Wrestler competes at the 1989 World Games for the Deaf in Christchurch
Pier Morten, a Deafblind wrestler from Canada, participates in the 1989 World Games for the Deaf, in Christchurch.
