New Zealand Olympians have returned triumphant after the team's most successful Games campaign ever.
The athletes arrived at the Auckland International Airport on Wednesday for one last victory lap.
Champion canoeist Dame Lisa Carrington, with three gold medals around her neck, said she was proud of the team's success.
"You never start out knowing that is what's going to happen, but it's so cool to see our other athletes performing so well," she said.
"It's special to be a part of that."
Dame Lisa Carrington with her three gold medals. Photo: RNZ / Calvin Samuel
Gold medal kayaker Finn Butcher planned to visit family in Otago.
"It's been a bit of a whirlwind, but I'm pretty stoked to come home and go down and see Central Otago again, take this [medal] down there," he said.
"I think the team was pretty special and 10 golds is... I don't think anyone expected that."
He said it had been a joy getting to know his fellow athletes.
"In the New Zealand team it's been awesome to meet a few people and hang out. Almost everyone has been really welcoming and I'll definitely be keeping in touch," he said.
Finn Butcher can't wait to get home to Central Otago. Photo: RNZ / Calvin Samuel
In Paris, Taiko Torepe-Ormsby became the fastest swimmer in New Zealand history.
It was his first time at the Olympics, surrounded by some of the best athletes in the world.
"It was cool being around not just other swimmers but other athletes from around the world," he said of his time in the Olympic village.
"Simone Biles for example, I was sitting next to her at dinner. Seeing all these famous people, putting myself next to them and [thinking] 'what's stopping me from being one of them as well?'"
Between events, Torepe-Ormsby said he found some time to see the sights.
"I was fortunate enough to go up the Eiffel Tower which was amazing, not really something a lot of people in the world are able to do," he said.
After he secured his medal, Butcher said he also had time to enjoy the Olympics as a spectator.
"After my race I actually got away to a couple of events, so we went to support the Kiwis in the velodrome. The women's madison which is just bonkers as a race," he said.
"Then we watched Hamish Kerr in the athletics jump to gold, so that was pretty cool."
After weeks of intense competition, chef de mission Nigel Avery said his Olympians were keen for a break.
"Everybody's pretty tired, people are ready to come home. It was 38 degrees the day we left, it was very very warm," he said.
"Everybody's given it their all, so happy to go home."
Kiwi athletes return home. Photo: RNZ / Calvin Samuel
But he admitted it was hard to say goodbye.
"It's kind of like, if you remember back when you were a kid going to school camp, you come home that first night and go 'where are my mates?' It's a bit like that, a real post-Games sort of blues," he said.
"I'm back to work, I'm a mortgage broker so I get back and try and help people into homes."
Carrington said she was feeling mixed emotions.
"It's such a short period of time and we build up to it for so many years," she said.
"It's gone in an instant. It's not relief, it's a bit of sadness because we've been working so hard and now it's over."
As for what's next, Carrington said it was the little things she was most excited for.
"I haven't seen my dog in four months, so that's a really big thing. Also I haven't really had any coffee in four months so that's also on my list."
