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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1984
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: February 1984

NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
  • John Hunt
1983
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: October 1983 (Vol. 20, No. 4)

NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Jeff Went
  • Shona McGhie
  • John Hunt
  • Janet Watt
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
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
  • Shona McGhie
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
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
1989
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: December 1989

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • John Hunt
  • Shona McGhie
  • Jeff Went
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
1985
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: Easter 1985 (Vol. 8, No. 1)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
The Sign Singing Superstars
The Sign Singing Superstars
The Sign Singing Superstars
Est. 1980s
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE

The Sign Singing Superstars

Throughout the early 1980s, the New Zealand Deaf community created two sign singing supergroups: The Sign Singers from Auckland, and The Silent Singers from Christchurch. These two groups pioneered Sign Singing as an art form and gained considerable public admiration for their efforts. Both groups made appearances on national Telethon events, and the Auckland group also were regulars on the Stars on Sunday programme, making more appearances than any other single group.
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
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
  • 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
  • Patreena Bryan
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
1986
video – Taonga source: Ngaire Doherty

A ‘Mime and Masks’ show by Deaf Drama Group: A Visit to Kiwiland

A Deaf Drama group perfoms 'A Visit to Kiwiland' at Kelston with supporting acts by the Sign Singers. The evening fundraised $766.00 towards the purchase of a TTY and to sponsor two pupils from Kelston to attend the World Deaf Games in Christchurch 1989.
Ngaire Doherty
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
1981
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
  • John Hunt
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
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
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
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
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
1983
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
  • 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
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
1983
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
  • Jeff Went
  • Janet Watt
  • John Hunt
1984
article – Taonga source: Southern News

Helping deaf to communicate

There is still much lack of understanding among the general public about the needs of deaf people, says Pat Dugdale, field officer in Wellington for the New Zealand Association of the Deaf.
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • John Hunt
  • Susie Ovens
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
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
1990-91
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
  • John Hunt
1983
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: July 1983

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
1990
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: November 1990

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Jeff Went
  • Susie Ovens
1983
article – Taonga source: NZ Herald

Sign Language Puts The Deaf in Tune

The Deaf Sign Singers have a busy schedule this year with performances throughout the North Island.
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
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
  • Shona McGhie
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
  • 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.
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
  • Shona McGhie
  • John Hunt
  • Susie Ovens