The Hockeyroos are one win away from confirming their Paris Olympics berth after belting the New Zealand women 3-0 in their opening Oceania qualifier.

Teenager Claire Colwill scored right on half-time, before goals to Rosie Malone and Brooke Peris within the space of a minute confirmed the win in Whangarei.

The winner of the best-of-three series will become only the second nation after France to qualify for the women’s Olympic hockey tournament.

The Kookaburras open their best-of-three series against the New Zealand men later on Thursday.

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Australia had more scoring chances early and won its first penalty corner with 45 seconds left in the opening half.

Colwill’s drag flick beat NZ goalkeeper Grace O’Hanlon, who was playing her 100th international, to put the Hockeyroos on the board.

Australia then blew the match apart with two goals in the 34th minute, with O’Hanlon saving Colwill’s drag flick, only for Malone to pounce on the deflection.

Renee Taylor then beat two Black Sticks to split the Kiwi defence and Peris won the foot race for the long ball before scoring.

The hosts then counter-attacked several times, but could not score.

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“With the rivalry between us it always makes it sweeter but there are two games to go and we know we have a grind ahead of us,” Australia captain Jane Claxton said.

“The Black Sticks are relentless in defence and do not let you go past them easily. Those three goals we scored, we had to earn them so we’ll be looking at how we can find gaps in their defence come the weekend.”

Game two of their series is on Saturday, with the last match for the men and women on Sunday.

-AAP