The golden glow shows no signs of fading for New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games.
Photo: AFP
Led yet again by the high flying track cyclists, the team added three more gold medals on day four in Birmingham
Aaron Gate and Campbell Stewart's 1-2 in the men's points race was a fitting finish to a dominant four days at the velodrome.
"That one was pretty special," Gate told Sky Sport.
"It's a good chance to refresh my singing of the national anthem, so it's pretty special, it's not something I've got to do many times in my life.
"It's something I'll definitely always cherish and to have my good friend Campbell standing next to me was absolutely awesome."
Equally "awesome" was team mate Ellesse Andrews.
Following Michaela Drummond's earlier silver in the scratch race, Andrews took out the women's keirin.
The 22-year-old sprinter, in the process, joined Gate as just the fourth and fifth New Zealanders to win three golds at a single Commonwealth Games.
Ellesse Andrews celebrates winning in the women's keirin final. Photo: AFP
After announcing herself with silver in the keirin at last year's Olympics, Andrews explained to Sky Sport that even she had surprised herself at her second Commonwealth Games.
"I'm so overwhelmed.
"I came here obviously wanting to my absolute best and leave everything out on the track but I never could have imagined that this would be the final outcome."
And the New Zealand team wasn't done there.
Swimmer Andrew Jeffcoat capped off another dream day by again breaking his national record to grab gold in the men's 50 metre backstroke.
"Oh, [it's] something you dream of. You wake up every day for moments like that.
"There's not a lot I can say really. You can't really put it into words. It's a special feeling. Probably the best feeling I've ever had."
Jeffcoat's gold took New Zealand's swim squad to five golds and eight total medals - the second best return in the pool so far, behind only Australia.
Those positions were reversed at the velodrome, though, Kiwi riders finishing as the top nation in the track cycling ahead of the Aussies.
Aaron Gate holds son Axel during his gold medal presentation for the men's 1000m time trial cycling event. Photo: AFP / Adrian Dennis
Their 3 medals in all, including eight gold provided a story at the opposite end of the spectrum to the recent athlete welfare issues which had put New Zealand cycling in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Speaking about the performance of the men's endurance riders, Gate indicated to Sky their Birmingham blitz was just the start of better times to come.
"The way we race and the results we've had this week I think speak for themselves in terms of our relationship as a squad.
"It's only going to improve as we go forward because success breeds success."
And success at these Games also came with soft toys on the medal dais.
A fact much to the delight of Gate's young son Axel, who rode his dad's bike on a lap of honour around the velodrome.
"Four Mr Moos, or whatever he's been calling them. He's been loving those soft toys. It's definitely a nice little bonus here.
"It's his third birthday next week so it means I don't have to buy him anything, which is pretty cool.
"Actually, no. I tell a lie. He's put his request in months ago for a red bike. That's something I'm not going to complain about. I'm happy to buy him one of those."
New Zealand's 24 medals - and 13 gold - had them third overall, behind Australia and England.
