A new kinorhynch species, Cristaphyes microtubuliferus sp. nov., is described from the continental rise of South Island, New Zealand. The new species is recognised by the presence of very poorly developed lateral terminal spines, combined with its considerable trunk length, which can exceed 1 mm. In addition, the new species is characterised by morphologically dimorphic setae, i.e. the regular long and slender setae found in most pycnophyid species, and much shorter and more rigid ‘minute setae’. Besides the new species, the presence of two additional undescribed Cristaphyes species is reported. The material is insufficient to support formal species descriptions for the latter two, but short diagnoses are provided for the species. The description of Cristaphyes microtubuliferus sp. nov. brings the total number of described and identified kinorhynch species in New Zealand up to 19. With the new species included, the genus Cristaphyes now accommodates 26 species, of which only six are known from the southern hemisphere. LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub: 77FEA91A-7684-4664-9DFC-470A245D9267.