New Zealand at the 2008 Summer Olympics
New Zealand took part in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The country sent 182 competitors, making this its largest ever delegation to the Olympic Games. It was also one of the most successful, equalling New Zealand's combined medal tally from the previous two Summer games. On 16 August – dubbed "Super Saturday" by journalists – New Zealand had its greatest single day at any Olympics, winning 5 medals: two gold, one silver and two bronze. New Zealand also gained its first Olympic track medal since 1976 when Nick Willis won the silver medal in the men's 1500 metres, becoming the sixth New Zealander to win an Olympic medal in that event. The success at the Olympics has boosted Athletics participation since then.
Medallists
Delegation
New Zealand sent 182 representatives competing in 17 sports.The following is the list of number of competitors participating in the Games. Note that reserves in fencing, field hockey, football, and handball are not counted as athletes:
| Sport | Men | Women | Total |
| Athletics | 4 | 6 | 10 |
| Badminton | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Basketball | 0 | 12 | 12 |
| Canoeing | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Cycling | 12 | 5 | 17 |
| Equestrian | 5 | 4 | 9 |
| Field hockey | 16 | 16 | 32 |
| Football | 18 | 18 | 36 |
| Rowing | 11 | 5 | 16 |
| Sailing | 7 | 2 | 9 |
| Shooting | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Swimming | 9 | 6 | 15 |
| Synchronized swimming | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Taekwondo | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Tennis | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Triathlon | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Weightlifting | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 97 | 85 | 182 |
Athletics
;Men;Track & road events
;Field events
;Women
;Track & road events
;Field events
;Combined events – Heptathlon
| Athlete | Event | 200 m | 800 m | Final | Rank | |||||
| Rebecca Wardell | Result | 14.07 | 1.71 | 14.28 | 24.64 | 5.84 | 42.14 | 2:13.65 | 5989 | 22* |
| Rebecca Wardell | Points | 968 | 867 | 813 | 920 | 801 | 708 | 912 | 5989 | 22* |
;Key
- Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
- Q = Qualified for the next round
- q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
- NR = National record
- N/A = Round not applicable for the event
- Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round
Badminton
Basketball
Women's tournament
;Roster;Group play
Canoeing
Slalom
Sprint
Qualification Legend: QS = Qualify to semi-final; QF = Qualify directly to finalCycling
Road
Track
;Pursuit;Omnium
| Athlete | Event | Points | Laps | Rank |
| Greg Henderson | Men's points race | 13 | 0 | 10 |
| Catherine Cheatley | Women's points race | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Greg Henderson Hayden Roulston | Men's madison | 5 | −1 | 10 |
Mountain biking
BMX
Equestrian
Eventing
Show jumping
Field hockey
Men's tournament
;Team roster;Group play
;Classification match for 7th/8th place
Women's tournament
;Team roster;Group play
;Classification match for 11th/12th place
Football
Men's tournament
;Roster;Group play
Women's tournament
;Roster;Group play
Rowing
;Men;Women
Qualification Legend: FA=Final A ; FB=Final B ; FC=Final C ; FD=Final D ; FE=Final E ; FF=Final F ; SA/B=Semifinals A/B; SC/D=Semifinals C/D; SE/F=Semifinals E/F; QF=Quarterfinals; R=Repechage
Sailing
New Zealand qualified 1 boat for each of the following events. Although Aaron McIntosh and Mark Kennedy qualified for the Tornado class, they did not compete at these Games.;Men
;Women
;Open
M = Medal race; EL = Eliminated – did not advance into the medal race; CAN = Race cancelled
Shooting
;Men;Women
Swimming
;Men;Women
Synchronized swimming
Taekwondo
Tennis
Triathlon
| Athlete | Event | Swim | Trans 1 | Bike | Trans 2 | Run | Total Time | Rank |
| Bevan Docherty | Men's | 18:45 | 0:28 | 1:17:42 | 0:26 | 30:57 | 1:49:05.59 | |
| Kris Gemmell | Men's | 19:06 | 0:25 | 1:17:40 | 0:27 | 35:42 | 1:53:49.47 | 39 |
| Shane Reed | Men's | 18:00 | 0:28 | 1:17:47 | 0:27 | 34:34 | 1:52:48.16 | 34 |
| Andrea Hewitt | Women's | 19:54 | 0:29 | 1:24:38 | 0:29 | 35:38 | 2:00:45.99 | 8 |
| Debbie Tanner | Women's | 19:57 | 0:29 | 1:24:43 | 0:29 | 35:54 | 2:01:06.92 | 10 |
| Samantha Warriner | Women's | 19:58 | 0:30 | 1:24:43 | 0:35 | 36:55 | 2:02:13.60 | 16 |
Weightlifting
Officials
- Chef de Mission: Dave Currie