New Zealand at the 1956 Summer Olympics was represented by a team of 53 competitors and 12 officials. Selection of the team for the Games in Melbourne, Australia, was the responsibility of the New Zealand Olympic and British Empire Games Association. New Zealand's flagbearer at the opening ceremony was Ritchie Johnston. The New Zealand team finished 16th on the medal table, winning a total of two medals, both of which were gold.
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Alan Larkins was a reserve for the team pursuit but did not compete.
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.
In 1956, New Zealand entered boats in three of the seven events. The competition was for men only; women would first row at the 1976 Summer Olympics. Don Rowlands travelled to the Summer Olympics as a reserve but did not compete.