Multiple-World and Olympic champion Lisa Carrington (NZL) headlines the New Zealand canoe sprint team set for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, with the country sending a K4W squad for the first time.

The 26-year-old Carrington, who won the K1W 200 metres gold in London, has also been selected for the 500 metre dash, having won both races at last year's world championships in Milan - just the third woman to achieve the feat.

Having a formidable record in the K1W 200m since bursting onto the scene before the 2012 Games, Carrington will be one of New Zealand's top picks for gold at this summers Games.

The selection of the K4W 500m boat of Jaimee Lovett, Caitlin Ryan, Aimee Fisher and Kayla Imrie was especially pleasing for Canoe Racing New Zealand (CRNZ), given the crew has been together for less than 18 months.

"We're delighted to see the investment in our women's programme paying off and our athletes getting the chance to show what they're capable of at the highest level," CRNZ chief executive Mark Weatherall said.

"New Zealand has a proud Olympic kayaking history and we're excited to see that continue."

It is the first time New Zealand has sent a K4W crew to the Olympics since Barcelona in 1992 when a men's team made the semifinals.

New Zealand's K4M 1000m team won gold in Los Angeles in 1984 when the kayaking team also won three other gold medals, with Ian Ferguson winning three.

Marty McDowell is the only male competitor selected for Rio, in the K1M 1000. It will be his first Olympics.