HomeDeaf ClubsWellington Deaf Society

Wellington Deaf Society is the heart of the Wellington Deaf Community. Established on 30 July 1938, has moved a couple of times since its formation, from gatherings at people’s places, leased halls and buildings, meet-ups at different pubs, to a co-owned building at 17 Bannister Ave, Johnsonville, Wellington – where it is now. The original name of the club was Wellington Adult Deaf Society before being changed to Wellington Society for the Deaf. It is now called Wellington Deaf Society. Enjoy exploring WDS’s documents, newsletters, objects and photos.

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1998
Images – Taonga source: Clive Morgan

Team Photo: Central Districts Deaf Men’s Basketball Team, Cunniffe Memorial Cup Winner 1998

Clive Morgan
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Shona McGhie
1992
Images – Taonga source: Clive Morgan

Team Photo: Wellington Deaf Basketball Team, 1992

Clive Morgan
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
2002
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Jacket: Central Districts Deaf Basketball, 2002

Wellington Deaf Society
1964
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Autumn 1964 (Vol. 1, No. 3)

NZSL Stories
  • Doug Croskery
  • John Mansell
  • Pam Croskery
  • John Hunt
  • Richard Hay
Est. 1941
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Berretti Challenge Cup: Wellington Deaf Club Table Tennis Championship

Wellington Deaf Society
Est. 2007
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Pool & Darts: Manawatu Deaf Social Club vs Wellington Deaf Social Club

Manawatu Deaf Society
Est. 1941
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Swindale Rose Bowl: Wellington Deaf Club Table Tennis Championship

Wellington Deaf Society
1982
article – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Building drive by deaf club

A Wellington club for the deaf has started a drive to raise funds to build clubrooms. Club members, many of whom are tradesmen, want to build the clubrooms themselves.
Wellington Deaf Society
1989
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Polishing cloth: Wellington Deaf Indoor Bowls, 1957-1989

Wellington Deaf Society
1991
Images – Taonga source: Clive Morgan

Team Photo: Wellington Deaf Basketball Team, New Zealand Deaf Games 1991

Clive Morgan
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
1964
article – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Deaf Folk Conquer their Handicap

On a recent Saturday, I was lucky enough to meet members of the Auckland Deaf Society at a working bee they were holding to improve the grounds of the city's Deaf Welfare Centre. The centre, incidentially, is a very fine building – it has the biggest sports hall in Auckland with a floor area 110 by 60 feet.
Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • John Schischka
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
1999
video – Taonga source: Rodney Roberts

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.
Rodney Roberts
1988
article – Taonga source: Capital Times

Deaf society celebrates anniversary

Wellington Deaf Society secretary, Pat Dugdale, is expecting 200 people from around New Zealand to take part in its 50th anniversary celebrations.
1950-80s
Object – Taonga source: Pam Witko

Collection of Doreen Howell’s Wellington Deaf Society Indoor Bowls badges and pins

Pam Witko
1954
Images – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Team Photo: Wellington Society for the Deaf Table Tennis Team, Winners New Zealand Deaf Societies Table Tennis Shield, 1954

Wellington Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Kevin Pivac
2002
publication – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

43rd New Zealand Games for the Deaf: Wellington, 24-28 October 2002

Wellington Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Colleen Norris
  • Tony Walton
  • Ruth Jessep
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
  • Susie Ovens
  • Milton Reedy
  • John Mansell
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Shona McGhie
1952
article – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Dream Of Deaf People Is Taking Shape – They Will Build A Hall For Themselves

We want a place where deaf people, young and old, can meet together. This is the dream of the Auckland Deaf Adult Society, described by the secretary, Jack Pollard. It is a dream which today is beginning to take real shape.
Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Doug Croskery
1968
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Wellington Deaf Indoor Bowls badge, 1968

Wellington Deaf Society
2000
video – Taonga source: Pam Witko

Memories of Doreen Forman

Memories of Doreen Forman, a Wellington Deaf Society life member, was recorded on 10th December 2000 – covering some events and recollections from Doreen’s life including the 1931 Napier earthquake.
Pam Witko
Est. 1998
Object – Taonga source: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union

Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union: Player of the Year

Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union
Est. 1990
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Wellington Deaf Society (Inc) Ten Pin Bowling: Men Single Championship

Wellington Deaf Society
2014
publication – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Absolutely Positively Windy Deaf: September 2014

Wellington Deaf Society
Est. 1989
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Central District Deaf Cricket Club: Player Of The Year

Wellington Deaf Society
1998
video – Taonga source: Inside Out

Deaf Blacks 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.
Inside Out
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
2011
Object – Taonga source: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union

Signed Rugby Ball: Central Zone Deaf Rugby, 2011

Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union
2015
publication – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Absolutely Positively Windy Deaf: May 2015

Wellington Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Keethan Sundar
1989
Images – Taonga source: Clive Morgan

Team Photo: Wellington Deaf Society Men’s Basketball Team, New Zealand Deaf Games 1989

Clive Morgan
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Shona McGhie
1988
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Key Ring: Wellington Deaf Society 50 Years, 1938-1988

Wellington Deaf Society