Tokyo Olympics: World champions Kerri Gowler, Grace Prendergast headline New Zealand's 32-strong rowing team

Thirty-two rowers, including 11 world champions, make up the New Zealand contingent to the Tokyo Olympic Games next month.

The squad is New Zealand's largest sent to an Olympic Games, surpassing the 31 taken to Rio de Janeiro.

The women's pair of Kerri Gowler and Grace Prendergast will look to better their fourth-placed finish from the 2016 Rio Games, and will also compete as part of the women's eight.

Gowler and Prendergast are the reigning champions in the women's pair, with seven world championship medals each.

"Representing New Zealand in my chosen sport is something I am incredibly proud to have achieved, especially alongside my longtime rowing partner Kerri," Prendergast says.

"The opportunity to again showcase New Zealand's strength in rowing at an Olympic Games is very special to me and to do so alongside such talented teammates is a dream come true.''

"I hope that our team's success, come Tokyo, will inspire another generation of female rowers, as I was inspired at a young age.''

They'll be joined by Jackie Gowler, Beth Ross, Phoebe Spoors, Kirstyn Goodger, Kelsey Bevan, Lucy Spoors, Emma Dyke and Ella Greenslade in the world champion women's eight, with Caleb Shepard coxswain.

Sincle sculler Emma Twigg returns for a fourth Olympic tilt, after two fourth-placed finishes at London 2012 and Rio de Janeiro 2016

Brooke Donoghue and Hannah Osborne make up the women's double sculls, while Eve Macfarlane, Olivia Loe, Georgia Nugent-O'Leary and Ruby Tew have been named as the women's quad.

Jordan Parry has huge shoes to fill, beating out two-time Olympic champion Mahe Drysdale as the men's single sculler. 

Chris Harris and Jack Lopas are the men's double sculls team. Harris returns for another Olympic shot, after representing New Zealand in 2012 and 2016, while Lopas makes his Games debut at Tokyo.

Stephen Jones and Brooke Robertson are the men's pair.

Hamish Bond stands out as the star name among the men's eight, eyeing another Olympic gold, after years of unprecedented men's pair success with Eric Murray. Bond will have the chance for another Olympic medal, after winning back-to-back golds at London and Rio with Murray.

Also in the eight is Dan Williamson, 21, the youngest member of the Kiwi rowing squad. Shaun Kirkham, Tom Mackintosh, Michael Brake, Matt MacDonald, Tom Murray, Phillip Wilson and Sam Bosworth complete the crew.

New Zealand squad:

Emma Twigg - women's single sculls

Brooke Donoghue, Hannah Osborne - women's double sculls

Kerri Gowler, Grace Prendergast - women's pair

Eve Macfarlane, Olivia Loe, Georgia Nugent-O'Leary, Ruby Tew - women's quad

Ella Greenslade, Emma Dyke, Kelsey Bevan, Kirstyn Goodger, Beth Ross, Phoebe Spoors, Lucy Spoors, Jackie Gowler, Caleb Shepherd - women's sweep squad

Jordan Parry - men's single sculls

Chris Harris, Jack Lopas - men's double sculls

Stephen Jones, Brook Robertson - men's pair

Shaun Kirkham, Tom Mackintosh, Michael Brake, Matt MacDonald, Tom Murray, Phillip Wilson, Sam Bosworth, Hamish Bond, Daniel Williamson - men's eight

Charlotte Spence, Davina Waddy, Ollie Maclean - reserves