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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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
  • Jeff Went
  • Janet Watt
  • Tony Walton
  • John Mansell
  • Susie Ovens
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
  • Jeff Went
  • Terry Kane
  • Tony Walton
  • Pam Croskery
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Janet Watt
  • Michael Lynch
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
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
1989
article – Taonga source: The Press

World Games for the Deaf: Wednesday 11 January 1989

A full page update from The Press, on the results from the World Games for the Deaf - Wednesday 11 January. Jumper lands in record books; Tennis moves back outdoors; Handball draws good crowds, U.S. below par in women's basketball, Miller bags two more; Today's programme and Results.
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
1989
Object – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts

Pennant: New Zealand Deaf Sports Team, January 1989

Margaret Coutts
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
  • 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: Christchurch Star

Deaf athletes see red

A Christchurch man has designed an international first for the World Games for the Deaf, designing a visual starter for athletic and swimming events.
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Michael Lynch
1989
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Bottle Opener: New Zealand Deaf Amateur Sports Association

Manawatu Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Shona McGhie
  • Jeff Went
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
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
  • Tony Walton
  • Susie Ovens
  • Terry Kane
  • Shona McGhie
  • Milton Reedy
  • Jonathan Anton
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
article – Taonga source: Christchurch Star

More than 1300 involved

About 100 interpreters have been trained in Christchurch over the last year. The classes were organised by the hearing people but the deaf were the teachers. It is only the second time that New Zealand sign language has been taught in this country.
NZSL Stories
  • Pam Croskery
  • Tony Walton
  • Janet Watt
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Jeff Went
1989
article – Taonga source: Kerry Titcombe

Kiwis praised for friendliness

Kiwis were the friendliest people on Earth, the president of the International Silent Sport, Mr Jerald Jordan, told the opening of the sixteenth World Games for the Deaf on Saturday.
Kerry Titcombe
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
1989
article – Taonga source: The Press

Twelve sports form busy programme

A summary of each sport featuring in the upcoming VXI World Deaf Games in Christchurch – soccer, table tennis, volleyball, basketball, handball, track and field, wrestling, cycling, swimming and badminton, with New Zealand contenders for medals.
NZSL Stories
  • Pam Croskery
  • Susie Ovens
  • Terry Kane
  • Jeff Went
  • Janet Watt
  • Milton Reedy
  • Michael Lynch
1989
Object – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts

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

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

Games ideal world

To most of the athletes attending the sixteenth World Games for the Deaf the social side of the event is as important as the competition. For the 10 days of the games the athletes and deaf officials are living in their ideal world – using their form of communication.
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
  • Jeff Went
  • Shona McGhie
1989
article – Taonga source: Christchurch Star

Action in the World Games for the Deaf basketball tournament at Cowles Stadium

New Zealand was beaten by Australia in the basketball at Cowles Stadium today, 76-63. The New Zealand captain, Tony McGill, put the first points on the board with an impressive three pointer but the Kiwis could not keep the pressure on.
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Susie Ovens
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
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Milton Reedy
  • Shirley Bregmen
  • Janet Watt
  • Susie Ovens
  • Michael Lynch
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
  • Shirley Bregmen
  • Doug Croskery
  • Jeff Went
  • John Mansell
  • Susie Ovens
1989
Object – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts

Souvenir Badge: USA Deaf Olympics, Christchurch, New Zealand

Margaret Coutts
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
1989
Object – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts

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

Margaret Coutts
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
  • Pam Croskery
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
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Michael Lynch
  • Terry Kane
2004
video – Taonga source: AUT Visual Languages Section

Memories of Shaun Fahey

Shaun Fahey, a Deaf artist, talks about illustrating signs for the NZSL Dictionary, and what life was like for a young Shaun growing up in Christchurch under the rule of oralism.
AUT Visual Languages Section
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
  • Susie Ovens
1989
Object – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts

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

Margaret Coutts
NZSL Stories
  • 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
  • Terry Kane
  • Tony Walton
  • Susie Ovens
  • Pam Croskery
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Milton Reedy
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
publication – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts

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

Margaret Coutts
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Terry Kane
  • Janet Watt
  • Michael Lynch
  • Milton Reedy
  • Kevin Pivac
1989
article – Taonga source: Christchurch Star

NZ ‘must build’ on success of World Deaf Games

New Zealand deaf sports competitors and officials must build on the successes and achievements of the 16th World Games for the Deaf which ended in Christchurch on Monday, the games committee chairman, John Macdonald, said today.
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
1989
article – Taonga source: Christchurch Star

Penny…and her thoughts

Penny Went collected a silver medal at the last World Games for the Deaf – now she is home and aiming for gold.
NZSL Stories
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
  • Janet Watt
  • Terry Kane
  • Pam Croskery
  • Susie Ovens