NZSL story – Taonga source: Colleen Norris
How the annual NZ Deaf Ten Pin Championships Began
Colleen shares how she and her husband, Norman kickstarted the New Zealand Deaf Ten Pin Championships in 1996, taking inspiration from Australia. They scouted Rotorua and knew straight away it was the right spot. It was central and easy to reach, and the local bowling centre backed them with a donated trophy. They spread the word with posters sent across the country and about 30 players showed up for that first Queen’s Birthday weekend. Colleen explains how they chose a scratch scoring system to keep things fair and competitive! The event was such a hit, it became an annual tradition that still runs today.
