Auckland is New Zealand's largest city. Built on a narrow isthmus between two harbours, Auckland is surrounded by extinct volcanoes and picturesque islands. The city is known as the "City of Sails" because of the numerous yachts that sail in the harbours and the adjoining Hauraki Gulf.

Image Courtesy of Sandy Austin

Auckland was founded in 1840 when the British decided to make it the capital of their colonial settlement in New Zealand. The Maori called Auckland "Tamaki Makau Rau", a maiden with 100 lovers as the land was desired by many and fought over for its riches, including its forested hills, productive volcanic soils and harbours abundant with seafood.

As the retail and commercial centre of New Zealand, Auckland is also regarded as the gateway to New Zealand for tourism and immigration. Its people are a melting pot of European, South Pacific and Asian cultures with a strong indigenous Maori heritage.

New Zealanders pride themselves on the nation's food, wine, coffee, rugby, sailing, rowing, beautiful scenery and 'punching above their weight' (i.e. doing better than other countries of their size). Auckland is a youth-centric and sports-loving city. It adopted the Youth Action policy in 2000 after consultation and youth involvement. Targeted at 12 to 24 year olds, the policy aims to make Auckland the first City of the Pacific for youth and a city where youth can "live long and prosper".

New Zealand's Olympic Origins

New Zealand was one of the first countries in the world to join the modern Olympic Movement which was founded by Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin in 1894.

Leonard Albert Cuff, a founder and first Honorary Secretary of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, met founder of the Olympic Movement Pierre de Coubertin in Paris on 8 July 1892 and realised that they shared common views on the educational and social value of sport and society.

Consequently, when Coubertin announced on 25 November 1892 his intention to restore the Olympic Games as a means of promoting a modern Olympic philosophy, New Zealand was one of the first nations to fully support his initiative.

Cuff was subsequently elected as one of the thirteen Founder Members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) established on 23 June 1894 in Paris and was the first IOC member appointed to New Zealand & Australia. He held that position until 1905 and was the last of the Founder Members to die.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee

The New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) was founded in 1911 and is an independent organisation responsible for providing New Zealand athletes with the necessary resources so that they can achieve their goals at the Olympic, Commonwealth and Youth Games.

Sport has a major role in New Zealand's culture, with the unofficial national sport of rugby union being particularly influential. Other popular sports include cricket, bowls, netball, soccer, motorsport, golf, swimming and tennis. New Zealand is internationally recognised for performing well on a medals-to-population at Olympic Games.

New Zealanders are proud of their 100 years of Olympic heritage – notably 1500m runners Peter Snell, Jack Lovelock and John Walker, equestrian Mark Todd, windsurfer Barbara Kendall and, more recently, triathlete Hamish Carter and cyclist Sarah Ulmer.

Visit www.olympic.org.nz for more information