Hockey - Team New Zealand

Nickname
The Black Sticks

General
New Zealand have competed at seven editions of the Olympic Games. The team are still looking for their first Olympic medal after falling just short at the last two editions of the Games. At London 2012 they were beaten on penalties in the semifinals by the Netherlands before going down 3-1 to Great Britain in the bronze medal game. The New Zealanders also placed fourth at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, where they won 4-2 against Oceania rivals Australia in the last eight before losing to eventual gold medallists Great Britain in the semifinals and then Germany in the bronze medal match.

New Zealand's best finish at a single edition of the Champions Trophy is third, which they achieved in 2011. The team made their most recent appearance at the tournament in 2016 and placed sixth. The Kiwis' best result at the World Cup is fourth, recorded back in 1986, with their most recent participation in 2018 yielding an 11th-place finish.

The Black Sticks are the reigning Commonwealth Games champions, having won the 2018 tournament with a 4-1 victory over Australia for gold.

New Zealand won their place at Tokyo 2020 by overcoming Australia in a three-game Oceania Cup series in September 2019. New Zealand had to do it on goal difference, though, as the teams each won one game and tied the other.