Freeskiers Jackson Wells and Finn Bilous have been added to the NZOC’s contingent along with snowboarders Tiarn Collins and Rakai Tait, and Alpine skiers Jackson Rich and Elizabeth Reid.

The half-dozen athletes join a team that already featured curlers Holly Thompson, Benjamin Smith, Courtney Smith and Matthew Neilson, and individual skills ice hockey player Oliver Curtis.

"They have all worked hard and deserve to represent New Zealand at the event," said Adam Dooney, director of coach and sport development at Snow Sports New Zealand.

"The qualification period has been long and tough.

"All of the athletes that set out to be considered for selection have performed with distinction and have pushed each other and themselves to the limits of their performance. 

"The Snow Sports NZ selectors are confident the selected athletes will do themselves, their sport and their country proud in Lillehammer."

Wells, brother of Sochi 2014 Olympic freestyle skiers Jossi, Byron and Beau-James Wells, has produced some good results over the past year, placing second in the Continental Cup on home snow, fourth at the Junior World Championships and most recently fourth in the Copper Mountain Revolution Tour in the American state of Colorado.

"I’m really proud to have been named in the team to Lillehammer," Wells said.

"My brother Beau-James went to the Youth Winter Olympic Games in Innsbruck [in 2012] and said it was great preparation, both mentally and physically for the games in Sochi.

"Selection for the team to Lillehammer will help me achieve my goal of competing at an Olympic Winter Games."

Bilous came third in the Continental Cup early last year and fifth in the halfpipe event at The North Face New Zealand Freeski Open, while Collins won the Continental Cup after riding strongly in the slopestyle event.

The well-travelled Tait placed well in the halfpipe events at both the Copper Mountain Revolution Tour and Mammoth Revolution Tour in the American state of California to gain his spot on the Winter Youth Olympic team.

Reid’s strongest results have come this past season with a fourth-place finish in giant slalom at the International Ski Federation (FIS) Tech Series in Cardrona and sixth in the National Championship giant slalom at Coronet Peak.

As for Rich, his best results came this past winter season with a 76.02 point result in the giant slalom at the Cardrona Tech Series.

"I am excited to see a group of athletes with such potential selected in the team," said Jesse Teat, New Zealand’s Chef de Mission for Lillehammer 2016. 

"It is a wonderful opportunity for these athletes to learn, grow and become proud New Zealanders.

"We look forward to welcoming the team in Lillehammer and will ensure the resources are in place so the team can achieve on the world's stage."

A total of 1,100 young athletes from 70 nations are expected to compete at Lillehammer 2016, which is due to take place from February 12 to 21.

The athletes, all aged 14 to 18, will by vying for medals in 70 events across 15 winter disciplines.

The Youth Olympic Games integrate a Culture and Education Programme, based around five main themes: Olympism, social responsibility, skills development, expression and well-being, and healthy lifestyles.

SKY Sport, a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by New Zealand's satellite pay-TV company Sky Network Television, will feature twice-daily highlights coverage of Lillehammer 2016.