New Zealand at the 1956 Summer Olympics was represented by a team of 53 competitors and 12 officials.

The men's field hockey team from New Zealand made its Olympic debut in Melbourne.

Before 1956, the only international hockey team apart from Australia that New Zealand had played against was India.

[2] Don Rowlands travelled to the Summer Olympics as a reserve but did not compete.

[citation needed] Chef de mission – Lloyd Woods[3][4]