The 10th Commonwealth Games, held in Christchurch in January 1974, was an odd coupling of 1970s cosmic harmony and cut-throat competition. The song that caught the mood of this was Steve Allen’s ‘Join together’.
Lake Karapiro's potential to become the best rowing venue in a country with few straight sheltered courses was soon recognised and it hosted the 1950 Empire Games and the 1978 World Champs
John Walker is one of New Zealand's track heroes. His athletic career was punctuated by memorable performances and noted for its longevity. While the bulk of Walker's success occurred during the 1970s, he continued footing it with the best in the decade or so that followed.
New Zealand athletes prepare for the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Vancouver, Canada. Among the athletes featured are Olympic gold medallists Yvette Williams and Murray Halberg.
In an amazing Commonwealth Games 1500-m final, New Zealand’s John Walker broke the
world record yet finished second. Tanzanian Filbert Bayi won in a new world record time of 3
minutes 32.16 seconds.
The sports writer Peter Heidenstrom rated Yvette Williams as his 'New Zealand Athlete of the Century'. There is no doubt that she was one of our greatest-ever athletes - and probably the most versatile. There were few events for women in track and field in the 1950s but Williams excelled at most of them.
Sports participation and spectatorship were the only daytime leisure activities to rival home-centred pursuits such as gardening in this period. New Zealand's hosting of the Commonwealth Games in 1950 encouraged participation in sport and confidence in our ability to compete at international level.
Women's sport matured in New Zealand after 1945. Mass participation in a period of prosperity, and increased mobility thanks to the now-common motor car, were crucial factors.
On the opening day of what are billed as the 'Friendly Games', Canterbury runner Dick Tayler pulls off a surprise victory for the host nation in the 10,000 m.
