The Mens Black Sticks have finished sixth at the Hockey World League Semi Final in Johannesburg after a 1-0 loss to Ireland.
The game was tough with either side able to score going into the second half of the match but Ireland's Alan Sothern delivered the winning strike in the 49th minute.
The Black Sticks fought back trying to create some scoring opportunities in the dying minutes but the Irish defence was too strong.
The loss means the New Zealand side misses out on automatic qualification into the Hockey World Cup in India next year.
They have another chance to qualify through the Oceania Cup in Sydney in October.