The New Zealand Paralympic team has secured its ninth gold at Rio.

LISTEN ABOVE: Liam Malone spoke to Rachel Smalley after winning gold

Liam Malone has triumphed in the 400m T44, setting a Games record 46.20s.

He has found himself tested in all manner of ways.

"I don't feel like I've been performing at my best. It's been a really tough block being in here and it's really taken it's toll on the body. I didn't recover so well after the 200. I had my bloods taken for keeping the sport clean and that really drained me."

The Kiwi sprinter took out the race by 0.03s from German David Behre, adding to his gold in the 200m and silver in the 100m.

"Last night I pretty much just jogged my heat so I was feeling confident coming into today. Hunter Woodhall, I thought he might have upset me, but I could just feel him coming up alongside me and I just put the gas down and I was all good."

New Zealand consequently met their Games medal target of 18.

The 22-year-old got his first set of blades following the support of the New Zealand public, who donated $20,000 to a crowd funding site.

Earlier, Scott Martlew finished eighth in the KL3 para-canoe final.