"And since 2003, we've been second once and third twice."
It is a remarkable record for part-time Kiwi paddlers, competing away from home, against crews from the powerhouses of world rafting - Europe, South America and Japan.
"I came into the crew in 2002, and won the title in Czech Republic in 2003," adds Kelly Wood, the team captain.
"And Annie Cairns was in the world title crew in 2001 and 2003."
Jones has traded the kayak she raced at the London Olympic Games this year for a place in the six-person raft.
She was part of the New Zealand crew that won silver at the Rafting World Championships in Costa Rica in 2010.
"Training for the Rafting Nationals has been wild and I am currently counting the bruises," says Jones.
"It's intensely physical navigating a six-person inflatable through slalom poles and sprinting down white water - and not without danger. At Kawerau, I fell out as our raft bounced off a rock and got run over," she says.
"Our raft flipped on the Kaituna and I had to swim out and climb up through the bush to get back to it as it floated downstream.
"This really is a rafting career highlight because it puts me in a different comfort zone."
The pre-worlds and national championships at Labour Weekend will be raced on the same rivers and in the same Incept rafts as the world championships a year later.
Local and international paddlers will take part, including teams from the Czech Republic, Australia and Japan.
On Friday, October 19 there will be sprint and head to head races on the Kaituna. On Saturday, October 20 the slalom will be raced in Kawerau on the Tarawera. The finale will be the down-river race on the Rangitaiki, on Sunday, October 21.
Nikki Kelly is excited to be competing on home water at the pre-world and next year's world championships in front of local crowds, including friends and family.
"It means we can focus on training and racing, not fund-raising and that will make a big difference to our chances of winning gold," she says.
"Hometown advantage is huge - with three different rivers to race on, the overseas teams will have a lot of rapids to learn. Raft racing is challenging.
"You are on a natural resource - Mother Nature - and rivers are so dynamic and changing that knowing those rivers and rapids will help immensely."
The international crews may have a lot to learn, fast, but they are looking forward to coming to Rotorua and Kawerau next year.
"They all want to come to NZ and experience our rivers," says Kelly, "To host them is a huge honour and to know they are all so excited to come here is great."
New Zealand rivers are well known among the international rafting community.
"The rivers we have near Rotorua are unique and each have their different characteristics and challenges to make for a dynamic overall competition," continues Kelly.
"Our rivers are regarded as pristine, remote, steep, difficult and some of the best - beautiful is another word, world class," she continues.
"Another huge factor is Rotorua is a town equipped to host 400 competitors, plus support crew and cheerleaders."
Rotorua has hosted several large world championship events in the past 10 years and has the infrastructure to match its status as one of New Zealand's main tourist destinations.
About 50 crews are expected to travel to New Zealand in November next year - 30 men's and 20 women's teams.
"So many of them want to come to NZ," says Kelly.
"It's about the travel and different cultures, not only the competition. Having days to sight-see and indulge in our culture is important and a lot of people will plan a holiday after competition to travel around and experience our country."
