Lasting Legacy: Reflections on the 1989 World Deaf Games in New Zealand

2025 •

The 1989 World Deaf Games in New Zealand were praised for smooth organisation, great weather, and the chance to enjoy the country’s landscapes and hospitality. Some visitors even found romance! The event helped improve international sign use and left lasting memories. Despite early financial concerns, it ended with a $3,000 profit and didn’t require government support.

The 1989 World Deaf Games in New Zealand were praised for smooth organisation, great weather, and the chance to enjoy the country’s landscapes and hospitality. Some visitors even found romance! The event helped improve international sign use and left lasting memories. Despite early financial concerns, it ended with a $3,000 profit and didn’t require government support.

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Taonga source:

Jeff Went

Reference number:

SignDNA – Deaf National Archive New Zealand, JWADS-03-STO25

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This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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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.

Images – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts

Team Photo: New Zealand Deaf Sports Team: XVI World Games for the Deaf, Christchurch 1989

Margaret Coutts

<img data-lazyloaded="1" data-placeholder-resp="128x128" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIxMjgiIGhlaWdodD0iMTI4IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTI4IDEyOCI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=" data-src="https://signdna.org/wp-content/uploads/taongasource-margaretcoutts.jpg" alt="Margaret Coutts" width="128" height="128" /><noscript><img src="https://signdna.org/wp-content/uploads/taongasource-margaretcoutts.jpg" alt="Margaret Coutts" width="128" height="128" />

Object – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts

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

Margaret Coutts

<img data-lazyloaded="1" data-placeholder-resp="128x128" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIxMjgiIGhlaWdodD0iMTI4IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTI4IDEyOCI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=" data-src="https://signdna.org/wp-content/uploads/taongasource-margaretcoutts.jpg" alt="Margaret Coutts" width="128" height="128" /><noscript><img src="https://signdna.org/wp-content/uploads/taongasource-margaretcoutts.jpg" alt="Margaret Coutts" width="128" height="128" />

Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Tee Shirt: INTERPRETER, XI World Games for the Deaf

Manawatu Deaf Society

<img src="https://signdna.org/wp-content/uploads/taongasource-ManawatuDS.jpg" alt="Manawatu Deaf Society" width="128" height="128" />

Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Bottle Opener: New Zealand Deaf Amateur Sports Association

Manawatu Deaf Society

<img src="https://signdna.org/wp-content/uploads/taongasource-ManawatuDS.jpg" alt="Manawatu Deaf Society" width="128" height="128" />

publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Journal: July 1988 (Vol. 2, No. 2)

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Object – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts

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

Margaret Coutts

<img data-lazyloaded="1" data-placeholder-resp="128x128" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIxMjgiIGhlaWdodD0iMTI4IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTI4IDEyOCI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=" data-src="https://signdna.org/wp-content/uploads/taongasource-margaretcoutts.jpg" alt="Margaret Coutts" width="128" height="128" /><noscript><img src="https://signdna.org/wp-content/uploads/taongasource-margaretcoutts.jpg" alt="Margaret Coutts" width="128" height="128" />

Object – Taonga source: Lorraine Butler

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

Lorraine Butler

article – Taonga source: Christchurch Star

Ingenuity puts them in the picture

Problems for photographers come in many forms. A prize-winning Christchurch photographer, Dick Poole, had his special worries at the World Games for the Deaf on Saturday. He used several methods to get the look he wanted – a little help from an interpreter, a little push and pull and a few signs.

publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: March 1983 (Vol. 20, No. 2)

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.