nzherald.co.nz's Ellen Dorset looks back at the NZ sporting moments that defined the decade.
1. Michael Campbell wins US Open
When it comes to sport, golf isn't one of New Zealand's strong areas, but in Campbell we found ourselves a winner.
His victory at the 2005 US Open made Campbell only the second Kiwi to win a major behind Sir Bob Charles, who won the Open Championship in 1963.
Heading into the final round four strokes behind leader Retief Goosen, Campbell held his nerve as others crumbled around him, shooting a final round, one-under 69 to win by two shots.
Even golfing legend Tiger Woods, who was making a late charge, bogeyed the 16th and 17th to help send Campbell into New Zealand sporting history.
2. Super Saturday
In what became known as 'Super Saturday', New Zealand enjoyed its greatest day at an Olympics, wining five medals in the space of a few hours on August 16 last year.
The rowers started the run with single sculler Mahe Drysdale, who competed with a nasty stomach virus, and the men's pair of George Bridgewater and Nathan Twaddle winning bronze.
The last Olympic race by the now-retired Georgina and Caroline Evers Swindell became the greatest and closest race in New Zealand's Olympic history.
Their disappointing pre-Games performances had critics doubting their abilities, but the reigning Olympic champions showed what they were made of, winning the gold in Beijing by just .001 of a second.
Track cyclist Hayden Roulston bagged silver in the 4000m individual pursuit before Valerie Vili blitzed the field in the shot put, with an opening throw of 20.56 to win New Zealand's fifth medal of the day and its first Olympic throwing gold medal.
3. All Whites qualify for Football World Cup
New Zealand's epic win over Bahrain brought the All Whites higher ranked and over confident opponents down a few pegs.
The All Whites' Rory Fallon scored New Zealand's goal in the 1-0 win, qualifying the team for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals for the first time since 1982.
4. Hamish Carter/ Bevan Docherty go head to head in Athens
In one of the greatest days for New Zealand in Olympic history, triathletes Hamish Carter and Bevan Docherty went head to head for a double dose of triumph.
Carter, 33, sealed the third New Zealand gold of the Games when he outshone world champion and race favourite Docherty with only 1km left to run.
Docherty kept shoulder-to-shoulder with Carter until the final kilometre and crossed the line for silver, reigniting the New Zealand games effort.
Carter retired in 2007, while Docherty went on to win bronze in Beijing last year.
5. America's Cup 2000
The first non-American team to successfully defend the America's Cup, Team New Zealand led us to victory in Black Magic, winning the series 5-0 against Italy's Prada Challenge.
Skipper Russell Coutts handed the helm of Black Magic to his understudy Dean Barker on the final race, as Team New Zealand made history.
Auckland's Viaduct Basin was awash with supporters, proudly wearing their iconic 'red socks' as the sailing heroes made their way back to shore.
6. All Blacks' 2005 season
The All Blacks produced a season of dominance in 2005, hailed as one of the great years in All Black rugby where the men in black swept aside everything in their path.
They sent the Clive Woodward-coached Lions home with their tails between their legs, whitewashing the three-test series. In one of Dan Carter's most memorable performances, the second test saw the All Blacks deliver a 48-18 thrashing to the British and Irish team.
The star team then went on to win the Bledisloe Cup and the Tri-Nations and completed only the second Grand Slam in New Zealand history.
To cap it all off, New Zealand edged out Japan and South Africa to win the rights to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
7. Kiwis win the World Cup, 2008
In one of the greatest shocks in rugby league history, New Zealand stunned Australia with their 34-20 win against the Kangaroos in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup final in Brisbane.
Just 12 months earlier the Kiwis were hammered 58-0 by Australia in Wellington, but the final was a different story.
New Zealand became the world champions for the first time, ending Australia's 33-year domination of the tournament.
8. Silver Ferns win world champs, 2003
The Silver Ferns returned to the top of netball in July 2003 when they beat Australia in the world championship final 49-47.
Their first world title since 1987, the Ferns had experienced the pain of several losses to Australia in major games including the final of the previous year's world championships and Commonwealth Games.
The team was on form but when centre Temepara George was sinbinned for being continually offside, their confidence was shaken.
Her return to the court later in the match inspired the Ferns to a memorable victory.
9. Black Caps whitewash Australia, 2007
The Black Caps pulled off two remarkable run chases to whitewash Australia in the 2006/07 Chappell-Hadlee Series.
Despite Australia's decision to rest a few senior players, New Zealand was not given much chance against a side that still contained the likes of Matthew Hayden, Michael Hussey and Glenn McGrath.
However the Kiwis embarrassed Australia by 10 wickets in the series opener in Wellington and chased down totals of 336 in Auckland and 347 in Hamilton.
Ross Taylor led the way with 117 in at Eden Park while Craig McMillan, Peter Fulton and Brendon McCullum staged a middle order fightback in Hamilton to seal the whitewash.
10. Scott Dixon wins Indianapolis 500, 2008
Dixon took out the chequered flag, the trophy and the prize money at the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500 in 2008.
The first Kiwi ever to win the prestigious race, Dixon, starting from pole position, did it convincingly - leading for 115 of the 200 laps.
He crossed the line 1.74 seconds in front of Brazilian competitor Vitor Meira, with an average speed of 231km/h.
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