The New Zealand team comprised Lily Tootill and Ulysses NZPH, Melody Matheson and Graffiti MH, Maurice Beatson and Mandalay Cove, Tess Clark and Sinatra II and Robert Steele and LT Holst Bernadette Reserve.
This event would be held during the Silver Fern Stakes on Friday, March 16.
As well as international riders, high profile judges would also be putting in an appearance, including Christian Landolt who was looking forward to his first time at HOY, although he already had a connection to Hawke's Bay.
A HOY spokesperson said in addition to his judging career Mr Landolt also rode himself, his eventing mount none other than Toblerone NZPH, bred and born at Ocean Beach stud NZ Performance Horses.
"Landolt is a regular feature judging at the world's most prestigious events, including Badminton and Burghley Horse Trials, and was a member of the ground jury at the recent Adelaide 4* where Kiwi Clarke Johnstone triumphed.
"His experience at the absolute upper levels of the sport will be invaluable to competitors and spectators alike at HOY where the Swiss native will be a judge and member of the ground jury."
He would be joined by ground jury Annabel Scrimgeour, who also held the highest qualifications as a 3*/4* judge, and had flown in from the UK where she worked closely with Kiwi rider Andrew Nicholson and many others at the top of their game.
South Islander Helen Christie would head the ground jury as one of few New Zealanders with the top qualifications.
Involved with HOY for years, Ms Christie fitted her home country event into a calendar packed with international expectations, including officiating at the World Equestrian Games.
Finally, technical delegate Christian Persson, a previous member of Sweden's eventing team at the 1984 Olympics, was pleased with the opportunity to attend his first HOY.
HOY organisers were looking forward to raising the bar on the eventing discipline.
"The next generation of Kiwi eventers are ready to break into the international circuit, so it's important to get them in front of international judges, and for them to ride in an international atmosphere," eventing director Erika Herries said.
With New Zealand history steeped in eventing success at an Olympic level, it's a discipline that deserves to be front and centre of the country's biggest horse show.