New Zealand competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, from 13 to 29 August 2004. This was the nation's twenty-second appearance at the Olympics since its debut in 1908 as part of Australasia. The New Zealand Olympic Committee sent a total of 148 athletes, 81 men, and 67 women to the Games to compete in 18 sports, surpassing a single athlete short of the record from Sydney four years earlier. Basketball and field hockey were the only team-based sports in which New Zealand had its representation at these Olympic Games. There was only a single competitor in archery, boxing, and fencing.
Sport in New Zealand largely reflects the nation's colonial heritage, with some of the most popular sports being rugby union, rugby league, cricket, association football, basketball, horse racing and netball, which are primarily played in Commonwealth countries. New Zealand has enjoyed success in many sports, notably rugby union, rugby league, cricket, America's Cup sailing, world championship and Olympics events, and motorsport.
Blair Robert Hopping is a field hockey player from New Zealand, who earned his first cap for the national team, nicknamed The Black Sticks, in 2000 against Pakistan. He competed for New Zealand at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester and the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
Simon James Towns is a field hockey player from New Zealand, who earned his first cap for the national team, nicknamed The Black Sticks, in 1992 against Kenya. In the 2007 New Year Honours he was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to hockey.
Bradley Shaw is a field hockey player from New Zealand, who earned his first cap for the national team, nicknamed The Black Sticks, in 2004 at the Champions Trophy against the Netherlands. He competed for New Zealand at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where New Zealand narrowly missed out on a bronze medal, losing a shoot out to England. He scored the winning goal against Argentina in the 2008 Olympic qualifying tournament.
Kyle Marshall Pontifex is a New Zealand professional field hockey player. He plays as a goalkeeper. He earned his first cap for the New Zealand national team, nicknamed The Black Sticks, in 2001 against Malaysia.
James Henry Nation is a field hockey player from New Zealand who earned his first cap for the national team, nicknamed The Black Sticks, in 2001 against Malaysia. The midfielder provides support at centre and left half and is also an attacking penalty corner option. He made his test debut in 2001, but did not make the team to the Commonwealth Games a year later. he had over 105 caps for the team and was a very experienced player in the squad at the time.
Paul Douglas Ackerley was a field hockey player, maths teacher and public servant from New Zealand.
Jennifer Susan Duck is a former field hockey player from New Zealand, who finished in sixth position with the women's national team, nicknamed Black Sticks, at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Two years earlier she was a member of the side that captured the bronze medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
New Zealand sent a team of 200 competitors and 102 officials to the 2002 Commonwealth Games, which were held at Manchester, England. The flagbearer at the opening ceremony was Sarah Ulmer, and at the closing ceremony was Nigel Avery.
New Zealand sent a team of 217 competitors and 80 officials to the 1998 Commonwealth Games, which were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The flagbearer at the opening ceremony was Graeme Miller, and at the closing ceremony Darren Liddel.
Samantha Charlton is a New Zealand field hockey player. She has competed for the New Zealand women's national field hockey team, including for the team at the 2012, 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympics.
Blair Hilton is a New Zealand field hockey player. At the 2012 Summer Olympics and 2016 Summer Olympics, he competed for the national team in the men's tournament. He also competed for New Zealand at the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Stephen Jenness is a New Zealand field hockey player. At the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics, he competed for the national team in the men's tournament.
Hugo Inglis is a New Zealand field hockey player who plays as a forward for the New Zealand national team.
New Zealand Hockey Federation Incorporated, also known as Hockey New Zealand, is the governing body overseeing, promoting and managing the sport of field hockey in New Zealand. It is a full member of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and the Oceania Hockey Federation (OHF).
Arun Peter Panchia is a former New Zealand field hockey player. He earned his first cap for the New Zealand men's national field hockey team in 2009 against Pakistan and retired from international hockey in 2020.
Blair Thomas Fagan Tarrant is a New Zealand field hockey player who plays as a defender for the New Zealand national team.
Richard Kyle John Joyce is a New Zealand field hockey player who plays as a goalkeeper for Belgian club Racing Club de Bruxelles and the New Zealand national team.
Dane Lett is a New Zealand field hockey player, who plays as a defender.
