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. Georgina and Caroline Evers Swindell produced one of the moments of the Games, backing up their 2004 effort by winning the double sculls final by 0.01s in a photo finish.
Track cyclist Hayden Roulston bagged silver in the 4000m individual pursuit before Valerie Vili blitzed the field in the shot put to win New Zealand's fifth medal of the day and first Olympic throwing gold medal.
NZ Herald report
3. Michael Campbell's US Open triumph
Great New Zealand golfing moments are few and far between which is what makes Campbell's victory at the 2005 US Open so sweet.
Campbell became just the second Kiwi to win a major behind Sir Bob Charles, who won the Open Championship in 1963, when he triumphed at the Pinehurst course in North Carolina.
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 the great Tiger Woods, who was making a late charge, bogeyed the 16th and 17th to help send Campbell into New Zealand sporting history.
Making the feat even more remarkable was that Campbell had to qualify to even make the tournament. Campbell sank a pressure 6-foot birdie putt on the last hole of qualifying to sneak into the field.
NZ Herald report
4. 2003 America's Cup
One word sums up Team New Zealand's 2003 America's Cup defence in Auckland - ugly.
The Kiwis hardly put up a fight, going down 5-0 to Alighi, who were led by Team New Zealand defectors Russell Coutts and Brad Butterworth.
Alinghi were better prepared and tactically superior to Team New Zealand, but the Dean Barker-skippered syndicate did themselves no favours by designing a boat that could not stand up to its own conditions, failing to finish two of the five races.
NZ Herald report
5. Kiwis win World Cup
The Kiwis produced one of the biggest form reversals in New Zealand sport, stunning the Kangaroos 34-20 in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup final in Brisbane.
Just 12 months earlier the Kiwis copped a 58-0 hammering by Australia in Wellington before being whitewashed in a three-test series against the Poms in Britain. Even bringing in the great Wayne Bennett and Stephen Kearney as coaches didn't seem to do much good, with the side going down heavily to the Aussies in the Anzac test and World Cup opener.
But the final was a different story. Enterprising on attack and brutal in defence, the Kiwis eclipsed an early 10-0 deficit before a moment of Billy Slater madness and a penalty try helped them to their first World Cup victory.
Herald on Sunday report
6. Silver Ferns win world champs
In July 2003, after a 16-year absence, the Silver Ferns returned to the top of the netball world, beating Australia in the world championship final 49-47.
The Ferns were carrying the baggage of several losses to Australia in crunch games and it seemed this one was heading the same way when centre Temepara George was sinbinned for continual offside - something that has not been seen in international netball since. However, George returned to inspire the Ferns to a memorable victory, grabbing a crucial intercept in the dying stages of the match.
The win triggered a period of dominance for the Ferns, including an unbeaten season in 2005 and Commonwealth Games gold the following year.
NZ Herald report
7. Carter-Docherty one-two in Athens
Hamish Carter and Bevan Docherty produced a dream result in the triathlon by winning gold and silver at the Athens Olympics in 2004.
As the competitors entered the run leg it was clear the two Kiwis would medal, it was just a matter of which colour. Carter kicked on to put to bed the disappointment of Sydney four years earlier while Docherty held off Switzerland's Sven Riederer for New Zealand's first gold-silver finish since Atlanta in 1996.
Carter retired in 2007, while Docherty went on to win bronze in Beijing last year.
NZ Herald report
8. Craig Barrett collapses in Kuala Lumpur
Craig Barrett left the nation horrified in 1998 when he collapsed during the final stages of the 50km walk at the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.
Barrett was seemingly on his way gold, having opened up a massive lead over the rest of the field with only 1km to go.
But then disaster struck. Barrett's leg turned to jelly. He began weaving and wobbling, which turned to a stagger before ultimately collapsing - his body succumbing to the extreme humidity. Such was Barrett's lead, he had several attempts at continuing, but New Zealand chef de mission Les Mills was forced to intervene and pull him from the race.
This experience did not put Barrett off however, and four years later he won silver in Manchester.
NZ Herald report
9. All Blacks 2005
2005 will go down as one of the great years in All Black rugby, a season of dominance where the men in black swept aside everything in their path.
The All Blacks sent the Clive Woodward-coached Lions home with their tails between their legs, whitewashing the three-test series, won the Bledisloe Cup and 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.
NZ Herald report - All Blacks vs Lions
NZ Herald report - World Cup
10. Nathan Astle vs England, 2002
While Nathan Astle's superb 222 against England in the first test in Christchurch, 2002 wasn't a winning knock, it was certainly an entertaining one as the Cantabrian smashed the record for the fastest double century.
Set 550 to win and with wickets regularly falling around him, Astle decided to try and win it by himself, producing one of the most brutal displays of batting ever seen, racing to 222 off just 168 balls.
Astle reached 100 at the pedestrian rate of 114 deliveries, his 150 took a further 22 balls and a mere 17 deliveries later he had reached 200. The innings included 28 fours and 11 sixes.
Astle put on 118 for the 10th wicket with an injured Chris Cairns to bring New Zealand within 98 runs of an unlikely victory until he was finally dismissed by Matthew Hoggard.
NZ Herald report
