reset filter
1985
video – Taonga source: Tony Walton

Kiwi Power! Gold (and silver) in the badminton ladies doubles

Watch Carolyn Hamlin and Janet Watt’s final match in the ladies doubles; they win the game for the gold! In second place is Pam Croskery and Penny Went, both also from New Zealand.
Tony Walton
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Susie Ovens
  • Terry Kane
  • Pam Croskery
  • Jeff Went
  • Janet Watt
  • Jonathan Anton
1994
video – Taonga source: Deaf Society of Canterbury

Japanese Deaf group visits Christchurch Deaf Club

It's a Friday evening and the Christchurch Deaf Club is where its happening! A tour group of 24 Deaf Japanese visitors make CDC a must-visit on their New Zealand itinerary.
Deaf Society of Canterbury
1975
video – Taonga source: Sue Penman

NZ Deaf Sports Convention, Christchurch 1975

The Deaf community gather in Christchurch for the NZ Deaf Sports Convention in Labour Weekend, 1975.
Sue Penman
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • John Mansell
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Shona McGhie
1991
video – Taonga source: Deaf Society of Canterbury

‘An Oriental Evening’: Golf Club fundraiser

The Christchurch Golf Club hosts a fundraiser at the Armagh Street Clubrooms, organising a social evening - with participants encouraged to come in Chinese Fancy Dress. Origami folding and calligraphy were some of the games on the night. Watch to see who won the compulsory fancy-dress parade!
Deaf Society of Canterbury
1985
video – Taonga source: Tony Walton

Engine issue delays the New Zealand team’s journey to Los Angeles

Narrated by Tony Walton, the New Zealand team’s plans are disrupted two hours into their flight with an engine problem. They are forced to return back to Auckland.
Tony Walton
NZSL Stories
  • Terry Kane
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Pam Croskery
  • Susie Ovens
1979
video – Taonga source: Dennis Tod

Old-Time Fancy Dress party, Christchurch 1979

A fancy dress party is held at the Canterbury Deaf Society’s clubrooms.
Dennis Tod
1981
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
  • Colleen Norris
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
  • John Mansell
  • Milton Reedy
1973
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: 1973 (Vol. 10, No. 1)

NZSL Stories
  • Richard Hay
  • John Hunt
  • Doug Croskery
  • Pam Croskery
1991
video – Taonga source: Rodney Roberts

Good old fashioned fun at the Christchurch Deaf Society’s picnic

Footage of the 1991 Christchurch Deaf Society's picnic day held at Spencer Park. On a progressively windy day the local Deaf community gathered to enjoy traditional Deaf community games including tug-of-war, egg throwing, welly throwing, and some less common games such as a dress-up relay.
Rodney Roberts
1985
video – Taonga source: Tony Walton

Medal ceremony: Our badminton champions collect their medals!

It’s not often we get to see four New Zealanders on the podium at the same time, and that is what we get in this video! It's most certainly time to break out the champagne when the team gets back to their base with a speech by the team manager.
Tony Walton
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Pam Croskery
  • Terry Kane
  • Tony Walton
  • Susie Ovens
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Janet Watt
1989
publication – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts

New Zealand Deaf Sports Team: XVIth World Games for the Deaf

Margaret Coutts
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Pam Croskery
  • Milton Reedy
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Terry Kane
1990
video – Taonga source: Rodney Roberts

Wrap-up Christmas party at Deaf Society of Canterbury

Deaf Society of Canterbury on Armagh Street celebrates the end of 1990 with a wrap-up Christmas party, and a few speeches!
Rodney Roberts
1976
video – Taonga source: Deaf Society of Canterbury

Christchurch Deaf Club Basketball: Farewell & Awards party

A farewell party and awards evening is hosted by the Christchurch Deaf Club Basketball Club, with awards and prizes given out by Peter Downie.
Deaf Society of Canterbury
1985
video – Taonga source: Tony Walton

Auckland gives the New Zealand Deaf team a proper send off!

The New Zealand Deaf team marched on Dominion Road, accompanied by police, with farewell speeches at Auckland Deaf Society before departing for the 15th World Games for the Deaf in Los Angeles.
Tony Walton
NZSL Stories
  • Janet Watt
  • Susie Ovens
  • Terry Kane
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Pam Croskery
  • Jonathan Anton
1983
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • John Hunt
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
  • Pam Croskery
  • Terry Kane
1985
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

DEAF GAMES

An update from the World Deaf Games in Los Angeles, where Carolyn Hamlin and Janet Watt (New Zealand) beat Pam Croskery and Penelope Went (New Zealand) in badminton doubles.
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Susie Ovens
  • Pam Croskery
  • Terry Kane
  • Jeff Went
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Janet Watt
1985
Images – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts

Team Photo: New Zealand Deaf Sports Team, Los Angeles 1985

Margaret Coutts
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Janet Watt
  • Jeff Went
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Pam Croskery
  • Susie Ovens
  • Terry Kane
1965-66
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Summer 1965-66 (Vol. 3, No. 2)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
1987
video – Taonga source: Deaf Society of Canterbury

Social Evening: Wrapping up the 32nd NZ Games for the Deaf

The 32nd New Zealand Games for the Deaf wrapped up with a presentation dinner-and-dance evening at Addington Raceway’s ‘Twiggers’ on Sunday 25th October 1987. A jam-packed evening with plenty of talking, sitting down, a buffet meal, dancing to live music, and group photos, with the venue closing 1.30am!
Deaf Society of Canterbury
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
2022
NZSL story – Taonga source: Janet Watt

What it was like being the team manager for the New Zealand badminton team

Janet Watt was the team manager for the New Zealand badminton team at the Christchurch World Deaf Games. She recalls being worried that each player had their own room at the university accommodation; how that would lead to more work for her (and eventually, silver and bronze for the team's players!).
Janet Watt
1985
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

DEAF GAMES

New Zealand won its first gold medal at the World Games for the Deaf in California yesterday when cyclist John Ooteman (Fielding) won the 35km time trial in 51m 10s. Also includes results from the New Zealand team.
NZSL Stories
  • Pam Croskery
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Jeff Went
  • Janet Watt
  • Terry Kane
  • Tony Walton
  • Susie Ovens
1992
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: December 1992

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
1964-65
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Kevin Pivac
  • John Hunt
1985
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

DEAF GAMES

New Zealand finished the World Games for the deaf in California with a gold in cycling and a gold and silver in badminton – their best result ever.
NZSL Stories
  • Terry Kane
  • Janet Watt
  • Pam Croskery
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
  • Susie Ovens
  • Jonathan Anton
1985
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Spring 1985 (Vol. 22, No. 2)

NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Shona McGhie
  • Janet Watt
  • Jeff Went
  • Terry Kane
  • Susie Ovens
  • Jonathan Anton
1980
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: September 1980 (Vol. 17, No. 5)

NZSL Stories
  • Patreena Bryan
  • Shona McGhie
  • John Hunt
1989
Images – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts

Team Photo: New Zealand Deaf Sports Team: XVI World Games for the Deaf, Christchurch 1989

Margaret Coutts
NZSL Stories
  • Janet Watt
  • Jeff Went
  • Shirley Bregmen
  • Tony Walton
  • Michael Lynch
  • Susie Ovens
  • Pam Croskery
1976
video – Taonga source: Deaf Society of Canterbury

Christchurch Deaf Club Basketball 25th Jubilee: Social dance at Armagh Street Clubroom

The Christchurch Deaf Basketball Club, established in 1951, celebrates their 25th Jubilee on Saturday 31 July, 1976 – with a game between old previous members versus young current members, before a social dance evening at the Armagh Street clubroom.
Deaf Society of Canterbury
1970
article – Taonga source: Evening Standard

Deaf Convention Sports Results

Results from the New Zealand Deaf Convention's sports being held in Palmerston North during Labour Weekend.
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Kevin Pivac
2022
NZSL story – Taonga source: Janet Watt

Winning gold in the badminton doubles at Los Angeles 1985!

Janet Watt reflects on her gold medal win in the women’s badminton doubles at the 1985 World Games for the Deaf in Los Angeles. She and her partner Carolyn Hamlin, both based in Christchurch and seeded number one for New Zealand, took the top spot. Auckland duo Pam Croskery and Penny Went also made the podium with a silver medal, marking a proud moment for the NZ team. Janet credits her mum for the encouragement that kept her going. Without that support, she says, she might never have made it to LA – let alone won gold.
Janet Watt