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.

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1989
article – Taonga source: The Press

Goodbye Christchurch, Hello Sofia

The sixteenth World Games for the Deaf wraps up on 18 January 1989, with the next hosts being Sofia, Bulgaria. Members of the New Zealand team perform a farewell haka for their overseas visitors.
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
1989
article – Taonga source: The Press

Games cost drain funds

New Zealand will have to struggle to send a team to the next World Games for the Deaf because of the huge cost of staging the 1989 event which ended at Queen Elizabeth II Park yesterday.
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Michael Lynch
  • Pam Croskery
1989
article – Taonga source: Pam Witko

Second gold to U.S. cyclist

At the basketball, also at Cowles Stadium, the New Zealand women beat Australia, 91-65, to notch the host country's first win in the sport. New Zealand led 45-26 at half-time and is now in the running for the bronze medal.
Pam Witko
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Terry Kane
1989
article – Taonga source: Christchurch Star

Advertisement: 16th World Games for the Deaf

Tickets for the opening ceremony are at $8.00 while the closing ceremony is at $5.00. All other tickets prices are listed: $3.00 per ticket for 1 venue entry. $6.00 per ticket entry to all venues on 1 day. $40 ten venues entry on any day.
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
1989
video – Taonga source: Kerry Titcombe

16th World Games for Deaf – News Review segment

News Review coverage of the 16th World Games for the Deaf in Christchurch 1989.
Kerry Titcombe
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Milton Reedy
  • Tony Walton
  • Janet Watt
  • Pam Croskery
  • Jeff Went
  • Kevin Pivac
1989
video – Taonga source: Rodney Roberts

TVNZ coverage of the 16th World Games for the Deaf

Professional coverage of the first few days of sports at the 16th World Games for the Deaf held in Christchurch in January 1989. Events are covered in detail and presented by the News Review weekly round up.
Rodney Roberts
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Michael Lynch
  • Terry Kane
  • 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
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Shona McGhie
1989
article – Taonga source: Christchurch Star

Medals eyed in 3 events

Four New Zealand deaf athletes are favoured to win medals in swimming, cycling, and badminton. The 112-strong New Zealand team will compete in 11 of the 12 sports.
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Pam Croskery
  • Tony Walton
  • Michael Lynch
  • Jeff Went
  • Janet Watt
  • Terry Kane
1989
Object – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts

Uniform Pocket Patch: New Zealand Deaf Sport Team, Christchurch 1989

Margaret Coutts
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
2003
video – Taonga source: Dorothy Jones

ADS Badminton Club celebrates its 40th birthday!

The ADS Badminton Club, well known for recognising its milestones, has a well-attended dinner at Auckland Deaf Society to celebrate its 40th birthday!
Dorothy Jones
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Pam Croskery
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Tony Walton
  • Terry Kane
  • Jeff Went
1989
article – Taonga source: Christchurch Star

Deaf All Whites crushed 18-0

The New Zealand team found itself out of its depth in the World Deaf Games soccer tournament, being crushed 18-0 by Netherlands in its opening match on Saturday night at Queen Elizabeth II Park.
NZSL Stories
  • Terry Kane
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
1989
article – Taonga source: The Press

Fielding cyclist wins gold for N.Z.

New Zealand's first gold medal was won yesterday by a Fielding cyclist, John Ooteman. Aged 28, Ooteman won the 35km time trial event on the Old West Coast Road ahead of 23 other competitors with a time of 51 min 12.13s.
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Susie Ovens
  • Tony Walton
  • Pam Croskery
  • Milton Reedy
  • Shona McGhie
  • Jonathan Anton
1989
article – Taonga source: Pam Witko

Silver to NZ runner in deaf marathon

New Zealand's Kevin Lawrence won silver in the World Games for the Deaf marathon yesterday, but had to survive a protest.
Pam Witko
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Michael Lynch
  • Jeff Went
  • Susie Ovens
1989
article – Taonga source: The Press

World Games for the Deaf: Saturday 14 January 1989

A full page update from The Press, on the results from the World Games for the Deaf - Saturday 14 January. Smith smashes record; Medal prospects; Basketball chance; Fast Swimming; Close tennis final.
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Susie Ovens
1989
Object – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts

Pocket Patch: New Zealand, 1989 XVI World Games for the Deaf, Christchurch

Margaret Coutts
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
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
  • Janet Watt
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
1989
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Autumn 1989 (Vol. 23. No. 1)

NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Janet Watt
  • John Hunt
  • Pam Croskery
  • Jeff Went
  • Kevin Pivac
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
  • John Mansell
  • Susie Ovens
  • Jeff Went
  • Janet Watt
1989
article – Taonga source: The Press

World Games for the Deaf: Monday 16 January 1989

A full page update from The Press, on the results from the World Games for the Deaf - Monday 16 January. N.Z. takes silver in marathon; double points for Italians in cycling; Finland retains volleyball title; Japan dominates; German team has full financial support.
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Terry Kane
  • Michael Lynch
1989
publication – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts

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

Margaret Coutts
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Pam Croskery
  • Milton Reedy
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Terry Kane
  • Jeff Went
  • Michael Lynch
1983
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: October 1983 (Vol. 20, No. 4)

NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Susie Ovens
  • Tony Walton
  • Janet Watt
  • Shona McGhie
  • Jonathan Anton
  • John Hunt
1989
article – Taonga source: The Press

Games crowd pleaser blind and deaf

One of the crowd favourites at the sixteenth World Games for the Deaf has been the blind and deaf wrestler from Canada, Pier Morten. Although being disadvantaged by not being able to see his opponents, Morten fights tenaciously and reacts speedily to holds applied on him.
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
  • Milton Reedy
1989
video – Taonga source: Rodney Roberts

NZ vs Sweden Men’s Basketball at WGD in Christchurch

Edited crowd-shot footage of the men’s basketball heat at the World Games for the Deaf 1989, between New Zealand and Sweden. Sweden won the match 126-61.
Rodney Roberts
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
  • Susie Ovens
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
1989
Object – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts

Souvenir Plastic Drinking Cup: 16th World Games for the Deaf, Christchurch 1989

Margaret Coutts
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
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
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
  • Pam Croskery
  • Michael Lynch
  • Janet Watt
  • Milton Reedy
  • Shirley Bregmen
1989
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Bronze Medallists from Auckland Deaf Society: New Zealand Deaf Women’s Basketball Team

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
  • Susie Ovens
  • John Mansell
  • Doug Croskery
  • Shirley Bregmen
1988
article – Taonga source: Christchurch Star

Here’s to Games

Three officials of the World Games for the Deaf pause to toast the success of the venture, as teams from more than 30 countries arrive in Christchurch.
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
1989
article – Taonga source: The Press

Deaf athletes will be out to win medals

The vice-chairman of the organising committee, Mrs Margaret Coutts, said yesterday "for two weeks there will be more deaf people on the street than hearing people. My heart is filled with gold because of the very big turn out – there are more athletes here than at the previous World Games in America (in 1985)."
NZSL Stories
  • Terry Kane
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Susie Ovens
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Pam Croskery
1980s
Object – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts

Silver Pin: N.Z Fern

Margaret Coutts
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
  • Terry Kane
  • Pam Croskery
  • Susie Ovens
  • Jonathan Anton