HomeDeaf Community EventsNew Zealand Deaf Games

The New Zealand Deaf Games (formerly the New Zealand Deaf Societies Convention until 1970, when it began to be called the New Zealand Convention of the Deaf, then the New Zealand Games for the Deaf, before changing once again in 2003 to the New Zealand Deaf Games). Traditionally held in October during Labour Weekend since 1949, the Games was a great opportunity for generations of Deaf New Zealanders to meet, socialise, exchange information and to keep NZSL alive. In 2017, Deaf Sports New Zealand held a Special General Meeting to vote on changes to the Deaf Sports New Zealand Constitution and also the New Zealand Deaf Games bylaws. The New Zealand Deaf Games were no longer restricted to Deaf athletes but would instead welcome hearing athletes to compete in the newly created Social Grade. There has not been a NZDG since 2016.

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2005
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Silver Medal: Ten Pin Bowling, New Zealand Deaf Games, New Plymouth 2005

Manawatu Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Ruth Jessep
  • Tony Walton
  • Colleen Norris
1990-00s
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Polo Shirt: Northern Deaf Golf Team – NZ Deaf Games

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Shona McGhie
  • Doug Croskery
  • John Mansell
2002
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Northern Sports Team, Women’s Basketball, 2002

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
  • Susie Ovens
  • Doug Croskery
  • Shirley Bregmen
1973
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: 1973 (Vol. 10, No. 4)

NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Kevin Pivac
1966
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Athletics Representatives, October 1966

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Milton Reedy
  • Doug Croskery
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Terry Kane
1952
video – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Deaf Day Trip to Orewa!

During one of the first New Zealand Deaf Sports Convention in Auckland 1952, a group of Deaf take a day trip to Orewa.
Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • John Mansell
  • Richard Hay
  • Doug Croskery
  • Pam Croskery
Est. 1991
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

New Zealand Deaf Sports Association: Dunedin Superstrike, Most Outstanding Player

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Ruth Jessep
  • Colleen Norris
  • Tony Walton
  • Shona McGhie
1986
Images – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Team Photo: Manawatu Deaf Society Women’s Basketball, 1986

Manawatu Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Tony Walton
  • Shona McGhie
2001
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Netball Club, 2001

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Colleen Norris
  • Tony Walton
  • Shona McGhie
2006
Images – Taonga source: Clive Morgan

Team Photo: Central Men Basketball, 46th New Zealand Deaf Games, Dunedin 2006

Clive Morgan
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Shona McGhie
1974
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

Deaf News of New Zealand: 1974 (Vol. 11, No. 3)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
  • Kevin Pivac
  • John Mansell
1973
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society, Winners of Bob Scott Memorial Shield (Badminton), 1973

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Pam Croskery
  • Shona McGhie
  • Jonathan Anton
  • John Mansell
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Doug Croskery
1951
video – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

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.
Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Kevin Pivac
2001
publication – Taonga source: Oticon Foundation

Soundscape: February 2001

Oticon Foundation
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
1980
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Sports Representatives, Hamilton 1980

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Terry Kane
  • John Mansell
  • Shona McGhie
  • Doug Croskery
  • Milton Reedy
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Tony Walton
1981
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Athletics Pennant: 29th N.Z. Deaf Sports Convention, Palmerston North

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Doug Croskery
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Milton Reedy
  • John Mansell
  • Tony Walton
  • Terry Kane
1989
video – Taonga source: Rodney Roberts

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.
Rodney Roberts
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
1979
video – Taonga source: Dennis Tod

NZ Deaf Sports Convention, Christchurch 1979 – Netball

Coverage of the Netball tournament at the NZ Deaf Sports Convention, Christchurch 1979.
Dennis Tod
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Shona McGhie
  • John Mansell
  • Tony Walton
1992
Images – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Team Photo: Manawatu Deaf Basketball Club, 1992

Manawatu Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Shona McGhie
2006
Images – Taonga source: Clive Morgan

Team Photo: Central Indoor Netball, 46th New Zealand Deaf Games, Dunedin 2006

Clive Morgan
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
Est. 2000
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

NZ Games for the Deaf, Millennium Trophy: Interclub Winner – Darts

Manawatu Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
1964-65
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Summer 1964-65 (Vol. 2, No. 2)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
  • John Mansell
  • Kevin Pivac
1972
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: 1972 (Vol. 9, No. 4)

NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • John Mansell
  • John Hunt
1996-97
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: Summer 1996/97

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Shona McGhie
1981
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Sports Representatives, Winners of Oxspring Shield (Athletics), 1981

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Doug Croskery
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
  • Milton Reedy
  • John Mansell
  • Terry Kane
1954
video – Taonga source: Owen Gibbons

Socialising at Labour Weekend Wellington 1954

Athletes and spectators take a day out from the sporting competition to have fun in Wellington, 1954.
Owen Gibbons
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
  • John Mansell
  • Kevin Pivac
Est. 1955
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

75th Jubilee Memorial Shield: Tug-of-War between New Zealand Deaf Societies

Wellington Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • John Mansell
2008
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Northern Zone Lawn Bowls Team, 2008

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
1982
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

Sports convention for the deaf

Imagine a packed stadium and not one of the 10,000 spectators’ voices heard by the athletes competing. That was the scenario painted by deaf table tennis and basketball player Kaz Witko who travelled with the New Zealand team to the international deaf sports convention in West Germany last year.
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
  • Kevin Pivac
  • John Mansell
  • Milton Reedy
1990
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Ten Pin Bowling, October 1990

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Colleen Norris
  • Ruth Jessep
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton