HomeCollectionThe Sign Singing Superstars

During the 1980s the Sign Singers from Auckland, and the Silent Singers from Christchurch dazzled hearing and Deaf audiences alike with their poetic renditions of popular songs. From humble origins performing at a fundraiser, to playing in front of 250 million people at the Commonwealth Games, the groups created a way for hearing society to connect with Deaf people and sign language like never before, and achieve incredible strides for Deaf awareness in New Zealand.

  • Storytelling/Performances
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1982
video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie

Sign Singers: ‘Sailing’

The Sign Singers perform the hit song 'Sailing' broadcast on Stars on Sunday in May 1982. Ian Watkins, introduces the group by saying “…and I’m delighted to welcome back to the programme the deaf sign singers.”
Dulcie McKie
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
1983
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: January 1983 (Vol. 20, No. 1)

NZSL Stories
  • Terry Kane
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Shona McGhie
  • John Hunt
  • Susie Ovens
  • Jonathan Anton
1984
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: February 1984

NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • John Hunt
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
1982
video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie

Sign Singers: ‘Born Free’

The Sign Singers perform the song 'Born Free' broadcast on Stars on Sunday in June 1982.
Dulcie McKie
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
1990
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Journal: March 1990 (Vol. 4, No. 1)

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
1981
video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie

Sign Singers perform Silent Night

The Sign Singers perform the famous carol 'Silent Night' for the Stars on Sunday programme.
Dulcie McKie
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
2015
video – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

History through Young Eyes: Interview with Susie Ovens

A Tu Kokiri student interviews Susie Ovens on her involvement with the infamous Deaf Sign Singers group.
Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
1983
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: July 1983

NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • John Hunt
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
1990-91
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Spring/Summer 1990/91 (Vol. 24. No. 2)

NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
  • John Hunt
1984
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: June 1984 (Vol. 21, No. 2)

NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
  • John Hunt
1988
article – Taonga source: NZ Woman’s Weekly

They’re naturals for the part

A production this month of the play Children of a Lesser God in Auckland will feature two deaf actors, Bryan Williams and Sheila Gibbons. And the starring role will be played, for the second time, by Gloss actress Miranda Harcourt.
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
1981
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: June 1981 (Vol. 18, No. 2)

NZSL Stories
  • Colleen Norris
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
  • John Mansell
  • Milton Reedy
  • John Hunt
1982
video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie

Sign Singers: ‘Harmony’

The Sign Singers perform 'Harmony' broadcast on Stars on Sunday in February 1983. They are introduced in sign language, in one of the first examples of a non-Deaf person signing on prime time television.
Dulcie McKie
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
1984
video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie

Sign Singers perform at Dunedin Deaf Club

The Sign Singers perform at the Dunedin Deaf Club in front of Deaf members and their friends.
Dulcie McKie
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
1983
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: March 1983 (Vol. 20, No. 2)

NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
  • Tony Walton
  • John Hunt
1984
video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie

Sign Singers perform on the ‘In South Tonight’ programme – Dunedin 1984

The Sign Singers tour the South Island for Deaf Awareness in 1984, and are invited to perform on ‘In South Tonight’ while in Dunedin.
Dulcie McKie
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
1992
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: March 1992

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
  • Patreena Bryan
  • John Mansell
1981
video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie

Sign Singers at Telethon 1981

The popular Sign Singers are the first act to perform at the 1981 Telethon Live at the Auckland Town Hall.
Dulcie McKie
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
1989
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Spring 1989 (Vol. 23, No. 3)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
  • Tony Walton
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
1981
article – Taonga source: Central Leader

Deaf singers in song

For the last 15 months, the Independent Theatre of the Deaf has performed in venues all over Auckland as the Deaf Sign Singers.
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
1987
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Journal: June 1987 (Vol. 1, No. 2)

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Ruth Jessep
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
1990
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: November 1990

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
  • Jeff Went
  • Doug Croskery
  • John Mansell
1988
video – Taonga source: Deaf Society of Canterbury

Black and White Fancy Dress Fundraiser for 1989 WGD Christchurch

The Black and White themed Fancy Dress party at Christchurch Deaf Society on 28th May 1988 was a fundraiser for the World Games for the Deaf. Creative members dressed-up as prisoners, punk rockers, Spanish costume dress with bolero, nuns, waitresses, and rugby league players!
Deaf Society of Canterbury
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Tony Walton
  • Shona McGhie
  • Jeff Went
1988
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Journal: July 1988 (Vol. 2, No. 2)

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
  • Susie Ovens
1982
article – Taonga source: NZ Woman’s Weekly

Mime put to use

Susie Ovens, born 97% deaf, uses mime as one of the many methods to relate to the hearing world. She is also a member of the “Deaf Sign Singers”, a group of 11 deaf people who perform sign language to music.
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Milton Reedy
  • Shona McGhie
1989
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: December 1989

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Terry Kane
  • Doug Croskery
  • Shona McGhie
  • Jeff Went
  • Colleen Norris
  • Susie Ovens
  • John Hunt
1981
video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie

Sign Singers: ‘I Hear Your Hand’

The Sign Singers perform the song 'I Hear Your Hand' for the Stars on Sunday programme.
Dulcie McKie
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
1982
video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie

Sign Singers: ‘Oh What a Beautiful Day’

The Sign Singers perform 'Oh What a Beautiful Day' broadcast on Stars on Sunday in February 1983.
Dulcie McKie
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
Telethons
Telethons
Telethons
1970s onwards
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE

Telethons

Telethons were run nationwide in New Zealand in 1975-79, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1988, 1990-91, 1993 and 2009. The 24-hour fundraiser would take place in regions around New Zealand and was broadcast on TV. Viewers would be shown coverage of the telethon nearest to their location. Smaller regions would typically see coverage of the telethon in one of the main centres (Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch or Dunedin), and it was in those areas where Deaf people were invited to participate.
1990
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Journal: June 1990 (Vol. 4, No. 2)

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie