Racing on Lake Wendouree in Ballarat, Michelle Johnson, Amanda Inkster, Joukje Siebenga and Betka Bouskova won the women's B fours in 3min 49sec.
The Port Chalmers crew started strongly, completing the first 500m in 1min 56.36sec on its way to a three second lead at the halfway mark.
It then powered away down the stretch to finish almost seven seconds ahead of the Australian crew which finished second.
Despite racing in the outside lane, Bouskova and Siebenga combined to win gold in the women's B double, finishing ahead of six Australian crews and one from Brazil in 4min 10.17sec.
Imogen Coxhead won the women's D single, beating Australian Krystine Macready by 3.42sec in 4min 37.64sec.
She also won a bronze medal with Robyn Cameron in the women's D double, finishing behind two Australian crews in 4min 16.45sec.
Karen Thompson, Johnson, Bouskova and Siebenga capped off an impressive campaign for the Port Chalmers club by winning bronze in the women's D quad.
Johnson (Otago Rowing Club) and Inkster (Wanaka Rowing Club) raced under the Port Chalmers United Rowing Club banner at the championships to meet competition rules that state all crews must race for the same club.
The group trained up to six times a week since the South Island championships in June in the lead up to the championships.
For all except Inkster, it was the first time the rowers had competed at the world championships.
More than 1000 competitors from 29 countries competed in 180 races over the four day event.
- Robert van Royen
