(Sports)Kiwi athletes eye Olympics, Paralympics prospect: officials

New Zealand sports officials are anticipating a record medal haul from next year's Olympic and Paralympic games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ) funding agency said Wednesday that New Zealand was tracking well towards what could be its best ever Olympic and Paralympic Games results.

HPSNZ chief executive Alex Baumann said the Rio targets of 14 or more Olympic medals and 12 Paralympic gold medals were set soon after the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

"London was an incredibly successful Games for New Zealand. We won 13 medals including six gold at the Olympics and 17 medals including six gold at the Paralympic Games," Baumann said in a statement.

"We want the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games to be New Zealand's most successful Games ever, which we'll do if we reach our targets. A year out we're confident we're tracking well. "

Recent strong performances included the World Rowing Cup in Lucerne where New Zealand rowers won 11 medals, including nine in Olympic disciplines, and "excellent" results in sprint and team pursuit cycling, as well as good results in sailing and kayaking.

"A year out, our focus is on the athletes, teams and sports we work with so there are no gaps in their preparations, so they can perform to their full potential at Games time," said Baumann.

Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman said he was also confident the athletes could meet their targets.

"Success on the world sporting stage is important to New Zealanders. Sport is part of our national identity, and when we see Kiwis winning we are inspired to get active," Coleman said in a statement.

"It is particularly important at the moment that we encourage our young people to be active and to get involved in sport, with our lives becoming more sedentary and rising rates of obesity. Our high performance athletes are great role models, and hopefully their efforts inspire others." Endi