Incredibly, New Zealand were a late entry and only decided to cobble together a foursome following Kerri Gowler and Grace Prendergast's victory in the pair at the Under-23 championship in Italy last month.
Joined in the boat by Kelsey Bevan and Kayla Pratt, though, the quartet proved that it was a worthwhile decision and by the middle of the race had established themselves as the clear winners, clocking a time of six minutes, 14.360 seconds on Friday.
The previous best time, set by Australia in 2006, was blown out of the water and reigning champions United States were left trailing in New Zealand's wake, coming second ahead of China.
New Zealand also broke a 20-year world-best time in the men's coxed pair final, as Eric Murray and Hamish Bond, world and Olympic champions in the men's pair, tried their hand at a different discipline on the international stage.
Britain had established the lead early in the race but as the contest entered the final quarter, Murray and Bond showed their class to take first in a time of six mins, 33.260secs - the Britons leading Germany over the line in second.
The records continued to tumble in Bosbaan, with Italy's Marcello Miani setting the new benchmark in the lightweight men's single sculls, eventually triumphing in a tight race ahead of Germany's Lars Hartig and Michael Schmid of Switzerland.
Greece and Netherlands also posted new world-leading times to claim gold in the lightweight men's and women's quadruple skulls respectively.
Rounding off a day of records were Swiss duo Simon Niepmann and Lucas Tramer who posted a new leading time of six mins, 22.910secs in the lightweight men's pair, the twosome coming from behind to take gold ahead of France and Britain.
Elsewhere on Friday, Belgium's Eveline Peleman was the victor in the lightweight women's single sculls final, while Germany were triumphant in the lightweight men's eight.