New Zealand competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany. For the first time at the Olympics, God Defend New Zealand was played instead of God Save the King/Queen. The New Zealand Olympic Committee was represented by 89 competitors, 82 men and 7 women, who took part in 63 events in 14 sports.
In the first modern archery competition at the Olympics, New Zealand entered one man in the competition.
Men's:
Robin Sampson — 2115 points (53rd place)Men's 100 metres
Lawrie d'ArcyHeat — 10.77 (→ did not advance)Men's 200 metres
Bevan SmithHeat — 21.17Second round — 21.04 (→ did not advance)Men's 1500 metres
Rod DixonHeat — 3:40.0Semifinals — 3:37.9Final — 3:37.5 (→ Bronze Medal)Tony PolhillHeat — 3:42.3Semifinals — 3:41.8Final — 3:41.8 (→ 9th place)Men's 5000 m:
Dick QuaxHeat — 14:35.2 (→ did not advance)Dick TaylerHeat — 13:56,2 (→ did not advance)Gavin ThorleyHeat — 14:11,6 (→ did not advance)Men's 10000 m:
Gavin Thorley — did not finishMen's 400 m hurdles:
Roger JohnsonHeat — 50.48 (→ did not advance)Men's marathon:
Jack Foster — 2:16:56.2 (→ 8th place)Dave McKenzie — 2:22:19.2 (→ 22nd place)Terry Manners — 2:25:29.2 (→ 34th place)Men's shot put:
Les MillsQualifying Round — 18.38 m (→ did not advance)Men's discus throw:
Les MillsQualifying Round — 59.22 mFinal — 55.86 m (→ 14th place)Robin TaitQualifying Round — 55.88 m (→ did not advance)Women's 100 metres
Brenda MatthewsHeat — 11.77 (→ did not advance)Women's 400 metres
Penny HuntHeat — 52.82Second Round — 52.66 (→ did not advance)Women's 800 m:
Sue HadenHeat — 2:04.9 (→ did not advance)Women's 100 m hurdles:
Brenda MatthewsHeat — 13.81 (→ did not advance)Men's featherweight:
Pat Ryan1/16-Final — lost to Kazuo Kobayashi of Japan (1 - 4)Men's welterweight:
Jeff Rackley1/16-Final — defeated Günther Meier of West Germany (0 - 5)Men's kayak singles:
Donald CooperPreliminary Heats — 4:12.45Repechages — 4:02.48Semifinal — 4:01.97Men's kayak pairs:
Donald Cooper and Tom DooneyPreliminary Heats — 3:56.48Repechages — 3:45.65Eight cyclists represented New Zealand in 1972.
Individual road raceBruce Biddle — 4:15:04 (3rd place)Paul Brydon — 4:17:03 (→ 50th place)Vern Hanaray — did not finish (→ no ranking)Robert Oliver — did not finish (→ no ranking)1000m time trialHarry KentFinal — 1:09.10 (→ 16th place)Team pursuitPaul Brydon, John Dean, Neil Lyster and Blair Stockwell — - 4:35.11 (→ 14th place)Alternative member: Brent Pascoe
Men's team competition
Terry Sale — (compulsory exercises:42.20, optional exercises:49.85)Women's team competition
Dianne Foote — (compulsory exercises:33.30, optional exercises:33.55)Preliminary round (Group B)Drew with Australia (0-0)Defeated Mexico (7-0)Defeated Great Britain (2-1)Lost to the Netherlands (0-2)Drew with Poland (3-3)Drew with Kenya (2-2)Lost to India (2-3)Classification match9th/10th place: Defeated Belgium (2-1) → 9th placeTeam rosterJeff ArchibaldJan BorrenArthur BorrenJohn ChristensenGreg DaymanChris InesonRoss McPherson (gk)Barry MaisterSelwyn MaisterTrevor Manning (gk)Arthur ParkinRamesh PatelAlan J. PattersonKevin RigbyTed SalmonWarwick WrightHead coach: Ross GillespieMen's middleweight:
Garrick LittlewoodPool A — defeated Adam Adamczyk of PolandPool A — lost to Alex Henri Bijkerk of Australia1972 was the last year that only men competed at the Olympic rowing events. New Zealand entered boats in four of the seven events.
Men's Finn:
Bret De Thier - 109.7 (→ 10th place)Men's Flying Dutchman:
Jock Bilger and Murray Ross - 79.0 (→ 9th place)Men's Dragon:
Noel Everett, Fraser Beer, and Ron Watson - 51.0 (→ 5th place)Men's Soling:
Con Linton, Steve Marten, and Jack Scholes - 113.0 (→ 21st place)Alternative member: Jonty Farmer, Jack Hansen, Geoff Smals, Bryan Treleaven
Four male shooters represented New Zealand in 1972.
25 m pistolBruce McMillan - 582 points (→ 28th place)50 m rifle, proneMike Watt - 593 points (→ 29th place)Ian Ballinger - 591 points (→ 46th place)50 m running targetGraeme McIntyre - 523 points (→ 26th place)Men's 100 m freestyle
Colin HerringHeat — 54.41 (→ did not advance)Men's 200 m freestyle
Colin HerringHeat — 2:00.29 (→ did not advance)Men's 400 m freestyle:
Mark TreffersHeat — 4:14.10 (→ did not advance)Men's 1500 m freestyle:
Mark TreffersHeat — 16:23.86Final — 16:18.84 (→ 6th place)Men's 200 m individual medley:
John McConnochieHeat — 2:15.04 (→ did not advance)Men's 400 m individual medley:
John McConnochieHeat — 4:49.89 (→ did not advance)Women's 100 m freestyle:
Heather CoombridgeHeat — 1:02.95 (→ did not advance)Women's 200 m freestyle:
Heather CoombridgeHeat — 2:14.78 (→ did not advance)Women's 400 m freestyle:
Jaynie ParkhouseHeat — 4:40.24 (→ did not advance)Women's 800 m freestyle:
Jaynie ParkhouseHeat — 9:34.65 (→ did not advance)Women's 100 m backstroke:
Susan HunterHeat — 1:10.06 (→ did not advance)Women's 200 m backstroke:
Susan HunterHeat — 2:28.28 (→ did not advance)Women's 200 m individual medley:
Susan HunterHeat — 2:30.29 (→ did not advance)Women's 400 m individual medley:
Susan HunterHeat — 5:14.47 (→ did not advance)Men's middleweight:
Tony Ebert- 410.0 kg (→ 17th place)Men's light heavyweight:
Brian Marsden - 445.0 kg (→ 12th place)Men's heavyweight:
John Bolton - gave upMen's freestyle (–82 kg):
David Aspin- Round 1 - lost to Harishchandra of India (4 - 4, 7:08)
- Round 2 - lost to Ali Hagilou of Iran (1 - 3)
