
2010
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Playing Top: 5th World Deaf Squash Championships – Palmerston North, New Zealand

NZSL Stories


1961
Object – Taonga source: John McRae
John McRae’s Wrestling Bronze Medal: World Deaf Games, Helsinki 1961



NZSL Stories


2016
video – Taonga source: Attitude Pictures
Deaf and Blind: Being Me Heather
Fifty-nine-year-old Heather Lawson is deaf and blind. She's been through periods of extreme loneliness and isolation, but by becoming independent through orientation and mobility training has helped her to be heard in a world she once felt she wasn’t part of.




1998
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society
Jersey: New Zealand Deaf Rugby Football Union, Wales Tour 1998







NZSL Stories


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’.














NZSL Stories


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.














NZSL Stories


1981
video – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society
Joan Bailey films Deaf performing at the Palmerston North Telethon!
Local Manawatu Deaf people appear on Telethon to sign a song, after Joan Bailey films a range of Deaf people at their workplaces - a welder, spraypainter, seamstress, data entry clerk and joiner.









2001
article – Taonga source: Unknown
Loud and clear
The deaf community believes it has been misunderstood and misinterpreted for too long. Now it wants to be seen and heard as a group with its own cultural identity.


1981
article – Taonga source: NZ Woman’s Weekly
Deaf people CAN lead a ‘normal’ life….
– and Val Jillings and her deaf family prove it! This is Deaf Awareness Week – so the Quota Club of Auckland will hold week-long displays, video films and discussions in the city’s Downtown Walkway and Centrecourt.


2020
video – Taonga source: Elizabeth Hines
Memories of triple World Deaf Games champion John Ooteman
New Zealand’s most acclaimed Deaf gold medallist, John Ooteman was a triple World Games for the Deaf champion (Koln 1981, Los Angeles 1985, Christchurch 1989). His story is told through the eyes of Elizabeth Hines, his Deaf sister.


NZSL Stories


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


1960-80s
Object – Taonga source: John McRae
Auckland Deaf Society Life Member: John McRae’s pin and badge collection of national and international Deaf sport events



NZSL Stories


1980
article – Taonga source: Zealandia
Deaf sponsor nun on trip of faith
The Wellington Catholic Deaf Association is sending a Dominican nun to conferences in Hamburg and Manchester.
NZSL Stories


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.







NZSL Stories


1995
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive
Deaf Blacks’ first ever international match
Holmes’ Jo Malcolm catches up with the Deaf Blacks team at their training in Christchurch in preparation for the first of three upcoming test matches against the visiting Deaf South Africans - the first ever international match for both sides.


NZSL Stories


1965
article – Taonga source: Mexico City Times
Participants In Olympics For Deaf Visit Mexico City
Seventeen New Zealanders, en route to the tenth annual International Games for the Deaf in Washington D.C., have been squeezing some Mexico City sightseeing into a brief lay-over during their trip. New Zealand's contingent, headed by Stewart Smith, includes a basketball team, wrestler, trackmen, table tennis players and a swimmer.


2017
article – Taonga source: The Northern Advocate
Rugby: Kaikohe’s Mihaka Lemon heading on NZ Deaf Blacks tour
Mihaka Lemon is ready to pull on the black jersey as he heads aboard a plane to England for the first time. The 29-year-old will play for the New Zealand Deaf Blacks on their English tour.




1985
article – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society
Aussie deaf team here
Almost one hundred Australian athletes will compete in the trans-tasman deaf games to be held in Wellington this weekend.


NZSL Stories


1989
article – Taonga source: The Press
Clever new system for starting
The starting equipment to be used at the Queen Elizabeth II complex is far more sophisticated. It uses a traffic-light type devised by a Christchurch man, Mr Ted Gilliver.
NZSL Stories


1961
article – Taonga source: Pam Witko
Deaf athletes for World Games
Five young deaf men fundraising for Helenski are touring the North Island in their car to help finance their trip.





2007
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Framed Photo: Rae McKie, Winner of Women’s Singles, Deaf Bowls Championship, Wales 2007






2022
video – Taonga source: Māori Television
Deaf basketball heads to Greece for world cup
The Black Thunder national basketball team is preparing for the World Deaf Basketball Cup next year in Greece. The Black Thunder team completed two games over the past weekend in Palmerston North and Wellington competing against the Australian national deaf basketball team, The Goannas.




biography
Profile
Anthony ‘Tony’ Walton (CNZM)
Tony received the Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2001 for his services to the Deaf community. Tony has had a broad involvement in many areas of the Deaf community, having been President of the NZ Deaf Sports Association and successfully hosting the World Deaf Games in 1989.
NZSL Stories


1988
article – Taonga source: Pam Witko
‘Review’ team getting ready to report
When the 1400 competitors and officials arrive in Christchurch to take part in the World Games for the Deaf, TVNZ's news programme for the deaf will be ready and waiting. The small staff of the weekly programme "News Review" is being boosted by four journalists to cover the events of the three-week games in January.



NZSL Stories


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!







NZSL Stories


1996
Images – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society
Team Photo: Victorian Deaf Women’s Basketball Team, Tour of New Zealand, 8-21 April 1996









1982
article – Taonga source: NZPA
Teletext news service begins
Teletext, TVNZ’s new information service for disabled and general users, will be introduced on February 1. It has cost about $1 million to set up and part of the money came from the 1981 Telethon.


1996
Images – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society
Team Photo: New Zealand Deaf Women’s Basketball Team, Victorian Tour of New Zealand, April 1996









2002
video – Taonga source: Kevin and Lynette Pivac
Extended version: Deaf Rugby World Cup final – New Zealand vs Wales
Extended version: New Zealand play Wales in the Deaf Rugby World Championship final at Eden Park, Auckland in 2002.


NZSL Stories


1961
article – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Team for deaf games backed
The Auckland Deaf Society has reversed a previous decision and decided to support the team being sent to the Olympic Games for deaf people in Helsinki in August by the Wellington Deaf Sports Club.















