New Zealand first sent an independent team to the Olympics in 1920. Prior to this, at the 1908 and 1912 Summer Olympics, New Zealand and Australian athletes competed together in a combined Australasia team. New Zealand has also participated in most Winter Olympic Games since 1952, missing only the 1956 and 1964 Games.

New Zealand competed at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, United States. The team of 21 was New Zealand's largest to date and comprised 11 rowers, six athletes, three boxers, and one cyclist. The officials were manager Philip Rundle of Dunedin, boxing and athletic coach W. J. Heenan, and rowing coach Clarrie Healey.