New Zealand has named 116 athletes to compete at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, compared to the 234 who represented the country at Birmingham 2022.
The team comprises 65 women and 51 men, with an average age of 27.7 years. Gymnast Sienna Shields, at 18, is the youngest member, while lawn bowls competitor Julie O'Connell will compete at 67 years and four months.
Sixty-three athletes will make their Commonwealth Games debut. Gymnast Misha Koudinov will compete at his sixth Games, while lawn bowls athletes Shannon Mcilroy and Ali Forsyth will each attend their fifth. Para bowls competitor Mark Noble and shot putter Tom Walsh will each make their fourth appearance.
New Zealand team chef de mission Nigel Avery said "for some, this will be their first time wearing the fern at a Games. For others, Glasgow will add another chapter to long and successful careers," according to the announcement.
Glasgow 2026 will feature 10 sports, down from 19 at Birmingham. New Zealand will compete in artistic gymnastics, athletics, basketball 3x3, boxing, lawn bowls, judo, netball, swimming, track cycling, and weightlifting, with para competitions in track cycling, athletics, bowls, and swimming.
Glasgow agreed to host after Victoria, Australia withdrew due to soaring costs, and only agreed on condition of a heavily reduced programme and cost-effective model. The Games run from 23 July to 2 August 2026, with more than 200 gold medals available across 10 days of competition.