HomeCollectionChristchurch 1989: World Deaf Games

After an unsuccessful bid to host the 1985 World Deaf Games, the New Zealanders weren’t deterred! In 1983, Christchurch won by a landslide in their second bid. With 30 nations attending, 955 athletes and a 112-member New Zealand team with 61 athletes, it was not only New Zealand’s biggest team but also, this was the first time the World Deaf Games was held in the Southern Hemisphere. The 16th World Games for the Deaf was hosted 7-17 January 1989.

  • Deaf Sports
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1989
video – Taonga source: Rodney Roberts

Christchurch WGD Men’s Basketball Final

Crowd based footage of the Men’s Basketball final at the 1989 World Games for the Deaf in Christchurch, which USA won 127-56. This footage includes the warm up, edited highlights of the match, medal ceremony, team photos, and post-match socialising.
Rodney Roberts
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Susie Ovens
  • Jeff Went
1989
Object – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts

Souvenir Pin Badge: 16th World Games for the Deaf, Christchurch NZ

Margaret Coutts
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
1989
article – Taonga source: Christchurch Star

The finished result

The result of Dick Poole's efforts was the official team photograph of the New Zealand team. The team mascot is in the centre of the front row alongside the coaches and team officials.
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Pam Croskery
  • 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
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Tony Walton
  • Pam Croskery
  • Milton Reedy
  • Jeff Went
  • Janet Watt
  • Kevin Pivac
1989
Object – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts

Souvenir Pennant: 16th World Games for the Deaf, Christchurch 1989

Margaret Coutts
NZSL Stories
  • Pam Croskery
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
2017
article – Taonga source: The Press.

Deaf community was home for Margaret Coutts

An obituary on Margaret Coutts who was "the mother of deaf sports", an active leader and strong positive role-model to younger members of the Deaf community. She was the first female president of the Christchurch Deaf Club, and was awarded a NZ Commemoration Medal for her contributions in 1990.
The Press.
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Susie Ovens
  • Tony Walton
  • Pam Croskery
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Shona McGhie
  • Terry Kane
1988
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Journal: December 1988 (Vol. 2, No. 4)

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
  • Janet Watt
1989
publication – Taonga source: Shona McGhie

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

Shona McGhie
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
  • Michael Lynch
  • Milton Reedy
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Janet Watt
1989
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Bottle Opener: New Zealand Deaf Amateur Sports Association

Manawatu Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Shona McGhie
1987
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

‘Spot On’ visits a Deaf basketball training session

The educational TV series ‘Spot On’, visits a Deaf basketball training session to catch up with Royce Flynn and Megan Mansfield, and understand how the sport is played by Deaf athletes, and controlled by a Deaf referee.
Television New Zealand Archive
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Susie Ovens
  • Jeff Went
  • John Mansell
  • Janet Watt
1980s
Object – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts

Gold Pin: Kiwi

Margaret Coutts
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Terry Kane
  • Susie Ovens
  • Pam Croskery
  • Jonathan Anton
1989
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Barbara Hazelwood, Team Manageress, NZ Deaf Women’s Basketball, Bronze Winner

Manawatu Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
  • Susie Ovens
1991
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: December 1991

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Janet Watt
1989
article – Taonga source: The Press

TVNZ attacked for Games ‘disservice’

Organisers of the Sixteenth World Games for the Deaf are disappointed with the lack of television coverage. The chairman of the organising committee has accused Television New Zealand of doing a "disservice" to the New Zealand public by not providing more coverage of events.
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
1990
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Journal: September 1990 (Vol. 4, No. 3)

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Shona McGhie
  • Jeff Went
1986
video – Taonga source: Ngaire Doherty

A ‘Mime and Masks’ show by Deaf Drama Group: A Visit to Kiwiland

A Deaf Drama group perfoms 'A Visit to Kiwiland' at Kelston with supporting acts by the Sign Singers. The evening fundraised $766.00 towards the purchase of a TTY and to sponsor two pupils from Kelston to attend the World Deaf Games in Christchurch 1989.
Ngaire Doherty
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Pam Croskery
  • Jeff Went
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
1989
Object – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts

Pennant: New Zealand Deaf Sports Team, January 1989

Margaret Coutts
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Shona McGhie
1989
Images – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Team Photo: New Zealand Deaf Women’s Basketball Team, Bronze Medal Winners, 1989

Manawatu Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Tony Walton
  • Shirley Bregmen
  • Jeff Went
1989
article – Taonga source: Pam Witko

Going for gold

New Zealand's Michael Lynch is on target for a gold medal in the 200m butterfly event at the World Games for the Deaf.
Pam Witko
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Michael Lynch
  • Jeff Went
1989
article – Taonga source: The Press

Nice touch to start of Deaf Games

A touching moment at the opening of the World Games for the Deaf appeared to set the tone for the competition. The entire United States team lined up to touch hands with the Russian athletes as the Soviet team marched into place.
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
1989
video – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

16th World Games for the Deaf, Christchurch

Opening ceremony and events at the 16th World Games for the Deaf, Christchurch 1989.
Manawatu Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Milton Reedy
1998
video – Taonga source: AUT Visual Languages Section

Memories of Dennis Robinson

Dennis talks about his past struggles and joys in life, his love of ten pin bowling and travel, punctuated with jokes and stories.
AUT Visual Languages Section
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
1989
article – Taonga source: NZ Woman’s Weekly

The ‘silent’ games, a resounding success

A magnificent success is how organisers described the World Deaf Games in Christchurch. The 112-member New Zealand team – the biggest yet – won seven medals.
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Pam Croskery
  • Jeff Went
  • Janet Watt
  • Kevin Pivac
1989
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

New Zealand Deaf News: Winter 1989 (Vol. 23. No. 2)

NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
  • John Hunt
  • John Mansell
  • Janet Watt
1989
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

CISS World Deaf Games Accreditation Card: Barbara Hazelwood, Team Manager, Basketball

Manawatu Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Susie Ovens
1989
article – Taonga source: Christchurch Star

Deaf Games basketballers sign in

The members of New Zealand deaf team signed into the Ilam games village yesterday. First to put pen to paper was Malcolm Clausen, watched by other members of the men's basketball team.
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Susie Ovens
  • Tony Walton
1989
video – Taonga source: Rodney Roberts

News Review update on finals at 1989 World Games for the Deaf

News Review presents a round-up of coverage of the 1989 World Games for the Deaf including a feature on a Deaf-blind wrestler, as well as the closing stages of games in the men’s football, volleyball and basketball.
Rodney Roberts
NZSL Stories
  • Milton Reedy
  • Susie Ovens
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Terry Kane
1989
Object – Taonga source: Lorraine Butler

Bronze Medal: Women’s Basketball, 16th World Deaf Games, Christchurch

Lorraine Butler
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Shirley Bregmen
  • Tony Walton
  • Susie Ovens
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.
Pam Witko
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
1989
article – Taonga source: The Press

Interpreters spent year on training

Nearly 90 Christchurch people have spent the last year training to be interpreters at the World Games for the Deaf, with about 50 deaf people teaching the volunteers their language.
NZSL Stories
  • Janet Watt
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went