New Zealand is a small nation known for its stunning scenery, incorporating huge mountain ranges, searing volcanoes and beautiful coastlines. The population of about 4.5 million descend from a mix of native Maori tribes people and the Europeans that settled on the island in the early 19th century.
In 1840, New Zealand was signed over to British sovereignty, and it was the 19th century period of British colonial rule that shaped its sporting tradition. The nation’s most popular sports include athletics, basketball, cricket, cycling, football (the British type), golf, motorsports, netball, rugby league, rugby union, sailing, softball and tennis.

Despite a diverse range of sporting interests, New Zealand is best-known in sport for its rugby union success. The New Zealand All Blacks team is unarguably the greatest national team in the world, boasting the finest winning record bar none and sitting at the top of world rugby rankings. No other sport is as popular or viewed as much in New Zealand. The All Blacks are well known for their “haka”, a Maori ceremonial war dance performed before play begins.

Also online betting and casino games are popular across the nation. Sites like slotsreview.nz are very helpful when choosing the right site to play on. Slots are called pokies in New Zealand and are a popular game.

Today, New Zealand is independent from Britain in most respects, though HM Queen Elizabeth II is still the official head of state. The nation enjoys fierce sporting rivalry with other Commonwealth member states, which partake in all the same sports.

Notable New Zealand competitors at the Commonwealth Games have included pistol shooter, Greg Yelavich (12 medals); cyclist, Gary Anderson (8 medals); and athlete, Valerie Young (7 medals). The nation has partaken in every edition of the Commonwealth Games and is usually placed an honorable fourth or fifth in the medal tables.