The Olympic experience is officially on for New Zealand after team members made their way into London's Olympic Stadium after a colourful, spectacular opening ceremony celebrating the best of British culture.
Runner Nick Willis led New Zealand's athletes past a line of drummers, about 11.30pm on Friday, right after Netherlands and just before Nicaragua.
Willis said it "feels like getting ready for a race ... except I have a whole team to run with", while other team members said people were chanting "New Zealand, New Zealand" as they walked to the stadium, signing autographs on the way.
The team uniforms - featuring the usual black with silver fern in their uniforms, also featured the words of a Maori proverb, "Tini Whetuu, e iti, te Pookeeao".
"The proverb loosely translates as "a small cluster of warriors can defeat a great army'," team boss Dave Currie said.
"It's a powerful message for a team from the other side of the world."
Watch the video for highlights from the opening ceremony.
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