The World Curling Federation (WCF) is the global governing body for curling. The WCF organises all World Championships and their various qualification events.
From 2023, New Zealand attempts qualification for these events at the previous year's Pan Continental Championships. Before 2023, NZ's qualification path was via the Pacific-Asia Championships. All participating teams at a World Championship in each Olympic cycle earn an entry to the next Winter Olympic Qualification Event, but in the last 2 years of the cycle they also earn qualification points for direct entry to the Games.
The Championship was open-entry until 2018. From 2019 onward this became a 20-team event, and the four bottom-placed sides from the previous event are relegated. The relegated teams join other nations at the annual open-entry Qualification Event, where the top four sides qualify for the next World Championship. Like the Men's and Women's events, Olympic qualification is earned via the World Championships.
An open entry event. Each member country may enter a national team (2 males, 2 females).
New Zealand attempts to qualify for the Men's and Women's Junior World Championship from the World Junior B Tournament. Players must be under 21 on 30 June of the year before the tournament.
An open entry event. Each member country may enter a Men's and a Women's team. Players must be aged 50 or over on 1 July of the year before the tournament.
These Championships are contested by nations from the Americas, Asia, Africa, and the Pacific. The top-ranked sides will qualify for the respective Men's and Women's World Championships. The Pan Continentals have an 'A' and a 'B' Division, with promotion / relegation between the two.
The PACCs ran from 1991 to 2021. They were NZ's qualification pathway to the World Championships prior to the Pan Continental Championships.
This event ran from 2005 to 2015, and would qualify the winner for the World Junior Championships.
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