Royce Flynn

The NZ team returns from the XIV World Games for the Deaf, Köln, Germany 1981.

The New Zealand basketball team battled it out with Sweden on 13 July 1985, at Pepperdine University, Malibu. The first half went to Sweden, 81 to 25, before the New Zealanders fought back for a better second half, ending with 156 to Sweden and 74 to New Zealand. It was the New Zealand basketball team’s second loss at the Games, having earlier lost to Israel. They came 7th out of 8 teams at the Games.

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!

The Christchurch team travel to Palmerston North for the NZ Deaf Sports Convention on Labour Weekend, 1976.

Established in 1951, the Christchurch Deaf Basketball Club celebrated their 25th Jubilee on Saturday 31 July 1976. The day kickstarts with a game between past players – in blue tops – versus current players – in yellow tops. There was also a social dance held that evening.

Dressed in jandals, John Ooteman takes to the podium for his gold medal in the 35 km time trial, supported by a crew of New Zealand supporters. 

The Deaf community gather in Christchurch for the NZ Deaf Sports Convention in Labour Weekend, 1975.

In the history of NZSL teaching, perhaps the most important development was when 8 NZSL tutors attended a two-week intensive teaching course in London in 1991. Watch this condensed version (taking from almost 29 hours of footage!) to get a sense of what the training was like.

The Christchurch Deaf Club basketball team travels to Westport during Queen’s Birthday weekend 1975 to participate in the Matai Invitation Tournament. Games are played at the Westport Community Hall. Footage covers players travelling to the West Coast via cars, with a few stops on the way, and a compulsory stop at the pub!

Coverage of the Trans-Tasman Deaf Games, Lincoln College, Christchurch, 10 January 1979, including opening ceremony and various sports.

A fancy dress party is held at the Canterbury Deaf Society’s clubrooms.

A farewell party and awards evening is hosted by the Christchurch Deaf Club Basketball Club, with awards and prizes given out by Peter Downie.

Footage of the World Deaf Games in Köln, of New Zealanders in action. Two New Zealand athletes won medals at the games.

This project explores the experiences of Deaf New Zealanders in accessing healthcare and health information. 40 Deaf people from around New Zealand share their stories about barriers in this setting as well as strategies they have used in advocating for their right to access information, communication, and make informed decisions.

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.