A heroes' welcome home to Kaikohe

Kaikohe will welcome Northland's newest world champions home on Friday with a parade.

Last week 21-year-old Chris Huriwai, from Otaua, retained his world street unicycling title at Unicon 2012 in Italy, while Sam LaHood of Dargaville, who celebrated her 16th birthday during the competition, won the world women's title. Thirteen-year-old Samuel Tzikoucos of Kaikohe placed third in the world in his age group.

They are due home this week, with Friday's parade scheduled to start at 11.30am. The parade will follow Broadway from the Mangakahia Road intersection, turn left into Station Road and then left into Memorial Ave, finishing at the Memorial Hall (all roads being closed to traffic), where the trio will receive accolades from school children and Far North dignitaries.

Among those invited are kaumatua, Far North Mayor Wayne Brown, MPs Mike Sabin and Hone Harawira, along with the schools where Chris has taught unicycling for the past two years. Ohaeawai, Tautoro, Kaikohe East and Kaikohe Christian schools had confirmed late last week that they would be there.

One of the parade organisers, Kaikohe Christian School pastor Mike Shaw, said he was proud of his pupil Samuel Tzikoucos, and gave thanks to God and everyone who had helped him get to the championships.

"It was a heart-warming community effort to get him over to Italy, with church, school and the wider community getting right in behind the fundraising and support," Mr Shaw said.

"He's done us all proud, along with Christian Huriwai and Sam LaHood. They are up there now with local legendary cycling hero Laurie Byers, putting Kaikohe on the international stage."

Mr Byers, who later became a Far North District councillor, won the bronze medal in the men's cycling road race at the 1962 and 1966 Commonwealth Games. He also competed in the 1964 Olympics.

More than 1800 unicyclists from 35 countries competed at Unicon 2012. The three Northlanders, every one of whom will come home with a medal, were part of an eight-strong Kiwi contingent.

The next world champs will be in Montreal in 2014.