In their final hit out ahead of the Paris Olympics, the New Zealand Rowing team's produced some encouraging results – including gold in both the men's and women's four at the third World Rowing Cup in Poland.
"I think it's pretty important. We're a new combination and haven't had much racing together so wanted to put out a big performance," said Kerri Williams.
While the current world champions, the Netherlands, were missing, both crews got one over their trans-Tasman rivals Australia, who won gold at the Tokyo Olympics.
"Today was another stepping stone in getting the race plan right," said Matt Macdonald of the men's four.
"Next, we've got to come out the start quicker 'cause the Aussies jumped out on us but we stayed pretty cool and knew our middle kilometre would shine through which it did so we're happy with that."
The women's lightweight double of Shannon Cox and Jackie Kiddle and men's single sculler Tom Mackintosh won New Zealand two other gold medals.
Mackintosh called it "good confidence building overall" but was mindful of the absence of his most fierce competitors from Germany and the Netherlands from this regatta.
"It was just executing my race plan and rowing as well as I could," he said.
New Zealand finished up with six medals in total, with the addition of two bronze in the men's pair and men's double.
The entire contingent will now head to Italy for their final training camp ahead of the Paris Olympics.
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