The world champion Melissa Hauschildt will contest January's inaugural half Ironman in Auckland.
A Commonwealth Games silver medallist in steeplechase at Melbourne six years ago, she took up triathlon three years ago, winning the world 70.3 title last year along with the Asia Pacific championship.
Ironman New Zealand champion Cameron Brown and two-time Olympic medallist Bevan Docherty are already confirmed starters for the event in Auckland on January 20th.
