It always shaped as a crucial chance for New Zealand to make a statement, and they came up just short against Australia in their opening

Mahe Drysdale cruised while Emma Twigg battled as both New Zealand single scullers made winning starts to the Rio Olympic regatta.

Emma Twigg has protested the conditions the crews were forced to race in on the opening day of rowing at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

COMMENT: You could trace the mountains in the night. In Rio, they stick out like fence palings and in the darkness the landscape looms, the cliffs a shade darker than the sky.

From Bulawayo to Limerick to Vladivostok, almost one in 10 New Zealand athletes attending the Rio Olympic Games were born overseas.

A leading sport agent says Kiwi athletes deserve more say in how their images are used in Olympic sponsorships.

Quietly, as the Rio Games cauldron ignites into flame, New Zealand's most successful Olympic coach will disappear into a mentoring backwater.

The first half of day one of New Zealand's Olympic campaign has been dominated by the success of its rowers in Rio de Janeiro. The

It seems Rio's Olympic sailing venue is as breathtaking, unpredictable and frustrating as the city itself. Talk to any of the

Its members call it, with an almost religious conviction, "the Olympic Movement," or "the Movement" for short, always capitalised.

Maybe three predictions can be made with some degree of confidence regarding New Zealand's performance at the upcoming Rio Olympics.

The women's Black Sticks, cyclist Linda Villumsen and swimmer Lauren Boyle all feature for New Zealand on Day 2 of the Rio Olympics.

Of 207 athletes carrying their country's flag flag one stood out during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

WATCH: 60 Kiwi athletes took in the glitz and glamour of an Olympic opening ceremony live in Rio this morning.

Supermodel Gisele Bundchen has stolen the show at the Rio Olympics Opening Ceremony, in a stunning catwalk down the centre of the stadium.

The cross-codes superstar moved as fast as he does on a rugby field to catch a pic with the Olympic icon.

Free-to-air live coverage of of the Olympic Games is back on the political agenda as Sky Television is making New Zealanders pay for the privilege.

Penthouse pools, an exclusive gym, targeted medical care and custom-made nutrition programmes set amid palm trees, blue skies and

For the first time in Olympic history, 10 athletes will compete at Rio 2016 for the Refugee Olympic Team.

While the rest of Team USA sleeps in the bare bones dorms of Rio's athletes' village, the basketball teams are living it up.

Jonah Lomu's role in bringing rugby back to the Olympics has been remembered in Rio.

Pele will not attend Friday's opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics because of poor health.

Tim Price has been called into the New Zealand Olympic eventing team on the eve of competition in Rio after Paget's horse cut his cheek.

As the curtain rises on the 31st Olympics, the prospects for a memorable games in Rio de Janiero are uncertain.

When the Brazilian team march out into Maracana Stadium in today's opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, there will be a Kiwi among them.

She has flown to Rio de Janeiro for the Olympics but 22 years ago Tyla Nathan-Wong was a little sparrow in no danger of flying the nest.

The author of the report which exposed Russian state-sponsored doping ahead of the Olympics has slammed the IOC for misrepresenting his findings.

Family and friends of Kiwi Olympians face a nervous time at Rio Games - none more so than NZ Rugby boss Steve Tew, who is preparing for a race of his own.