The New Zealand women's quad and men's eight booked spots in A finals at the 2015 World Rowing Championships in France on Wednesday night (NZ time).
But it was not all joy and happiness for the eight New Zealand crews who took to the water at Aiguebelette in southeast France.
The women's quad made a flying start in the repechage and led for the first 1000m before being overtaken by the Netherlands. However, second place was enough to book a spot in the finals over the weekend.
The men's eight also needed a top two finish to get a finals spot and there were nervous times, as the Netherlands and the United States joined the Kiwis in a tense chase for automatic qualification.
The Netherlands took top spot and the New Zealand crew held off the United States' challenge to claim second.
Both crews need a top five finish in the finals to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Semifinal qualifiers from Wednesday's action included lightweight single sculler Adam Ling, the men's pair of Eric Murray and Hamish Bond, the women's lightweight double of Julia Edward and Sophie Mackenzie and Mahe Drysdale in the single scull.
The results were not so good for the men's lightweight double of Peter Taylor and Hayden Cohen, who failed to qualify for the semifinals and missed out on the chance of Olympic qualification.
The news was similarly bleak for women's single sculler Fiona Bourke, who finished less than half a second behind third place in her quarterfinal, but bowed out.
Eight New Zealand crews were contesting A/B semifinals last night and two crews will take their places in the C/D semifinals.
More semifinals and some finals will be held tonight. Coverage is from 7.55pm on Sky Sport 3.
