It means that Australia are guaranteed three quota places at Rio 2016 with a maximum three men and three women.

Moffatt, a two-time world champion, and Emma Jeffcoat broke away early before Moffatt pulled clear for a narrow victory in the New Zealand city.

The race was essentially over as a contest the moment that Moffatt and Jeffcoat caught a wave into the beach on the second of two swim laps, body surfing out of sight of chasing New Zealander Simone Ackermann.

With a lead of close to two minutes out of the water, the pair rode away from the chasing pack on the bike leg before Moffatt showed her class on the run to take a 2 hours 02min 24sec win.

The 31-year-old Moffatt, who competed in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics in Beijing and London, was all smiles as she crossed the line, 34 seconds ahead of Jeffcoat, her junior by 10 years. 

"Emma and I worked really well on the bike, but the headwind was tough coming back each time which stung the legs a little bit," Moffatt, second in the International Triathlon Union World Cup in  Mooloolaba last weekend, said.

"Likewise, on the run it was hard running into that wind. It's a tough year - trying to get into the Olympic team for Australia is a hard feat in itself."

New Zealand's Maddie Dillon won the bronze medal in 2:10:54. 

The men's race featured an Australian trifecta, Walkington winning from Aaron Royle and Jake Birtwhistle after the trio broke away on the swim.

Walkington sprinted home for a 1:52:06 win, fractionally ahead of Royle's 1:52:14, with Birtwhistle less than a second back in third.

Royle is the only athlete to have secured an automatic athlete nomination for Australia's Olympic team after his sixth place in last year’s Rio 2016 test event.

The final opportunity to earn an automatic place in Australia's team for Rio 2016 is due to come on the Gold Coast on April 9 in the second round of the World Triathlon Series. 

A top 10 finish in the men’s and women’s race on that day will see two more names nominated to the Australian Olympic Committee.

"That’s a case of mission accomplished,” said Triathlon Australia performance director Bernard Savage.

“Everyone did their jobs from the swims, which saw some amazing surf skills, to great jobs on the bike and in the run – well done to all.

“To secure those final quota spots ahead of New Zealand was never going to be easy – the New Zealanders hate losing and especially to Australia. 

“But to get a maximum three spots for Rio is testament to everyone doing their job – it‘s up to the individual athletes now to deliver on the Gold Coast next month.”

Australia also dominated the junior races.

The women's race saw an Aussie clean sweep with Jessica Claxton winning from Ellie Hoitink and Zoe Leahy.

In the men's race Matthew Hauser brought home the gold medal with New Zealand's Dan Hoy winning silver ahead of Hauser's tea-mate Liam McCoachcrossing for the bronze.