1989
publication – Taonga source: Shona McGhie

VXIth World Games for the Deaf, Christchurch: 7-17 January 1989

Shona McGhie
1985
Images – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts

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

Margaret Coutts
1986
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Summer 1986 (Vol. 22, No. 3)

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.
2015
publication – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Absolutely Positively Windy Deaf: June 2015

Wellington Deaf Society
1995
publication – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

38th New Zealand Games for the Deaf: Wellington, Labour Weekend 1995

Wellington Deaf Society
1981
article – Taonga source: Unknown

Games Loss ‘A Blow’ For Deaf Team

New Zealand athletes who took part in the World Deaf Games in Cologne arrived home unhappy about losing their bid to host the 1985 Deaf Games in Christchurch.
2002
publication – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

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

Wellington Deaf Society
1985
video – Taonga source: Tony Walton

Los Angeles 1985: An update from the team manager with team results

The New Zealand team manager, Tony Walton, reports on the team’s results at the Los Angeles 1985 World Deaf Games including where the team stayed and played at.
Tony Walton
1989
Images – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts

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

Margaret Coutts
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
1987
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Journal: April 1987 (Vol. 1, No. 1)

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
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
1973
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

1981
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: December 1981 (Vol. 19, No. 4)

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
1985
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

Pam and Kaz take life in their stride

Says Pam: “I think for me I live in two worlds and have two languages, the deaf language and the hearing language. I speak the deaf language because I was brought up with it.”
2013
publication – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Absolutely Positively Windy Deaf: September 2013

Wellington Deaf Society
1989
publication – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

33rd New Zealand Games for the Deaf: Wellington, 19-23 October 1989

Wellington Deaf Society
1981
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: New Zealand Deaf Sports Team, 1981

Auckland Deaf Society
1973
article – Taonga source: Pam Witko

Married recently: Kaz and Pam Witko

Married recently at St Patrick’s Church, Paraparaumu were Kaz and Pam Witko, the only daughter of Mr and Mrs Howell. The couple will live in Perth.
Pam Witko
1989
publication – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts

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

Margaret Coutts
1985
article – Taonga source: Unknown

Representing his country at deaf games

Paparangi's Kaz Witko will be representing New Zealand at the World Deaf Games in Los Angeles later this year. At 36, Kaz is no stranger to playing sport for his country.
1987
video – Taonga source: Deaf Society of Canterbury

‘News Review’ puts a spotlight on the New Zealand Deaf Games in Christchurch over the weekend of 23 – 26 October 1987

The 32nd New Zealand Games for the Deaf is featured on News Review, covering athletics, basketball, table tennis, lawn bowls and netball. The question, ‘Why have a Deaf Games?’ is put forward to competitors and officials! Footage also features the much appreciated ‘Canterbury Duck’ that Deaf kids had requested more of!
Deaf Society of Canterbury
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.
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
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
1984
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Spring 1984 (Vol. 21, No. 3)

1981
video – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

New Zealanders at the World Deaf Games in Köln

Footage of the World Deaf Games in Köln, of New Zealanders in action. Two New Zealand athletes won medals at the games.
Manawatu Deaf Society
2021
video – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Wellington Deaf Society: Welcome Home Party!

Wellington Deaf Society finally has a new home, a new Deaf Club! A formal opening on Saturday 24 April 2021 to celebrate its new building since selling its Marion Street building in 2015.
Wellington Deaf Society
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
1981
video – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

World Deaf Games, Köln 1981

New Zealand team goes to XIV World Games for the Deaf in Köln, Germany in 1981.
Manawatu Deaf Society
1981
video – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

WDG Köln 1981 team returns home

The NZ team returns from the XIV World Games for the Deaf, Köln, Germany 1981.
Manawatu Deaf Society
1981
video – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Deaf athletes visit Disneyland en route to the World Games for the Deaf in Köln!

New Zealand athletes stopover at Los Angeles on the way to the World Games for the Deaf in Köln, and make the most of the trip with a visit to Disneyland!
Manawatu Deaf Society
1995
video – Taonga source: Pam Witko

Memories of Doreen Howell (Forman)

Memories of Doreen Howell, a life member of Wellington Deaf Society, was recorded on 9 July 1995 at Pam and Kaz Witko's place.
Pam Witko
1985
video – Taonga source: Tony Walton

Opening ceremony of the VX World Games for the Deaf

New Zealand sends 30 athletes to the 15th World Games for the Deaf in Los Angeles, with footage of the opening ceremony. The flagbearer for New Zealand was John Ooteman, with Susie Ovens carrying the kiwi mascot. The Gallaudet Dance Company also put on a performance. Footage shows a fly by with a sign saying ‘WELCOME WORLD GAMES FOR THE DEAF’.
Tony Walton
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
1989
article – Taonga source: The Press

Twelve sports form busy programme

A summary of each sport featuring in the upcoming VXI World Deaf Games in Christchurch – soccer, table tennis, volleyball, basketball, handball, track and field, wrestling, cycling, swimming and badminton, with New Zealand contenders for medals.
1981
article – Taonga source: Unknown

Able to talk

For the first time in their lives, Pam and Kay, who are profoundly deaf, can talk to each other by telephone. The Combined Societies for the Deaf is hoping to get telephone-type equipment in airports, police stations, taxi offices and emergency service switchboards.
1985
video – Taonga source: Tony Walton

New Zealand table tennis players battle it out at Los Angeles 1985

The New Zealand table tennis team finds the going tough at the World Deaf Games. Representatives were Adrian Winterburn, John Lovell, Kaz Witko, Thelma May (Coach).
Tony Walton
1983
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

Telephones for the deaf

For the first time since they met, Pam and Kaz Witko can talk to each other on the telephone… well, it’s not really talking it’s more like writing letters, only a lot faster.