1990 Commonwealth Games (Auckland)

In 1990 New Zealand once again hosted the Commonwealth Games, in Auckland. The games were part of the sesquicentennial celebrations, marking 150 years since the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. The spectacular opening ceremony emphasised Māori heritage, including the arrival of Polynesian ancestors in New Zealand. These games provided New Zealand’s best-yet medal haul with 17 gold, 14 silver and 27 bronze medals. 

Source: Olympic and Commonwealth games — New Zealand as the Commonwealth Games host, Te Ara — The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

OPENING OF THE GAMES

COMMONWEALTH GAMES VENUES

AUCKLAND CITY CELEBRATES THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES

THE 1990 SESQUICENTENNIAL 

(The 1990 Commonwealth Games coincided with 150 years of the signing of the Te Tiriti o Waitangi | The Treaty of Waitangi and this saw a number of demonstrations)

Whina Cooper continued in public life, opening the Auckland Commonwealth Games in 1990. She told an international audience to remember 'that the Treaty was signed so that we could all live as one nation in Aotearoa'. 

Source: Biographies — Whina Cooper, NZHistory.

MEDAL WINNERS

Stand-out performances for New Zealand included high-jumper Tania Murray winning a long, seesawing contest with Janet Boyle of Northern Ireland.

Auckland swimmer Anthony Mosse ended a great career by retaining the 200-metre butterfly title he had won at Edinburgh in 1986, while Cantabrian Anna Simcic signalled her emergence by winning the 200-metre backstroke.

New Zealand cyclists won six gold medals. On the track, the pursuit team was victorious. Team member Gary Anderson also won the men’s individual pursuit and the 10-mile scratch race, and Madonna Harris won the women’s individual pursuit. On the road, Graeme Miller outsprinted his keen local rival Brian Fowler to win the individual title. Both men were part of the winning time-trial team.

Nikki Jenkins, 14 years old, took first place on the vault to win New Zealand’s first-ever gymnastics medal in an international competition, as well as to become New Zealand’s youngest-ever Olympic or Commonwealth gold-medallist. Angela Walker made it a New Zealand gymnastics double, winning the rope event as well as picking up three bronzes in the rhythmic section. 

 Source: Olympic and Commonwealth games — New Zealand as the Commonwealth Games host, Te Ara — The Encyclopedia of New Zealand 

MEMORABILIA

VIDEOS

This story was curated and compiled by Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa | National Library of New Zealand, Services to Schools staff, June 2022.