reset filter
Est. 1980
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Wellington Deaf Society’s Most Popular Member of the Year

Wellington Deaf Society
1981
article – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

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.
Wellington Deaf Society
1981
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

NZSL Stories
  • Michelle Kruger
  • Milton Reedy
  • John Hunt
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
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
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Terry Kane
  • Pam Croskery
  • Susie Ovens
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
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.
Est. 1975
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Nelson Fairbrother Memorial: Wellington Deaf Society Indoor Bowls, Singles

Wellington Deaf Society
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
  • Susie Ovens
  • Terry Kane
  • Jeff Went
  • Janet Watt
  • Pam Croskery
  • Tony Walton
  • Jonathan Anton
1995
publication – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

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

Wellington Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Shona McGhie
  • Colleen Norris
  • Ruth Jessep
1988
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

Wellington fields 16 at deaf Games

Sixteen Wellingtonians are part of the 97 strong New Zealand team to compete in the 16th World Games for the Deaf in Christchurch. Local members of the team and the sport they are competing in are listed.
NZSL Stories
  • Terry Kane
  • Susie Ovens
  • Pam Croskery
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Michael Lynch
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
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Shona McGhie
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
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Terry Kane
  • Pam Croskery
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Janet Watt
  • Susie Ovens
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
  • Terry Kane
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Pam Croskery
  • Janet Watt
  • Susie Ovens
  • Jonathan Anton
2015
publication – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Absolutely Positively Windy Deaf: June 2015

Wellington 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
1989
publication – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

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

Wellington Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Colleen Norris
  • Tony Walton
  • Ruth Jessep
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
  • Pam Croskery
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Susie Ovens
  • Terry Kane
  • Jonathan Anton
Est. 1969
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Walton Award: Sports Man of the Year

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

Team Photo: New Zealand Deaf Sports Team, 1981

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Milton Reedy
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
1989
publication – Taonga source: Shona McGhie

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

Shona McGhie
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Tony Walton
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Milton Reedy
  • Michael Lynch
  • Shona McGhie
  • Jeff Went
1985
article – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

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.
Wellington Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Terry Kane
  • Tony Walton
  • Susie Ovens
  • Jeff Went
  • Pam Croskery
  • Jonathan Anton
2013
publication – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Absolutely Positively Windy Deaf: September 2013

Wellington Deaf Society
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
  • Terry Kane
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Pam Croskery
  • Susie Ovens
  • Janet Watt
  • Jonathan Anton
1985
Images – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts

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

Margaret Coutts
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Terry Kane
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Pam Croskery
  • Tony Walton
  • Janet Watt
  • Susie Ovens
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
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
1989
publication – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts

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

Margaret Coutts
NZSL Stories
  • Michael Lynch
  • Jeff Went
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Terry Kane
  • Tony Walton
  • Milton Reedy
  • Pam Croskery
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
1972
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

First Australia v New Zealand Deaf Men’s Basketball Match: January 1972

Manawatu Deaf Society
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.”