In the heats, the eight, coached by Harry Mahon and managed by Olympic gold medalist Dudley Storey, beat the defending world champions, the Soviet Union.
The Soviets got through the repechage to make the final and they and the powerful East Germans were regarded as the biggest threats. But the New Zealanders, stroking confidently, put in a mid-race burst that took them to the front and they held on to win by a length.
Seven of the eight retained the world title the following year.
The crew was:
- Mike Stanley
- Andrew Stevenson
- Dave Rodger
- Roger White-Parsons
- Chris White
- Les O’Connell
- George Keys
- Tony Brook
- Andy Hay (coxswain)