Silver superstar mobbed

Northland's first Olympic medal winner in 16 years is planning to spend some time relaxing, catching up with friends and family and enjoy the buzz of his silver medal win, but first he had a hero's welcome home to enjoy on Thursday.

Blair Tuke, from Dove's Bay, was greeted by more than 3000 people who lined the streets of Kerikeri for a tickertape parade. Accompanying him were his team mate in the 49er class, Peter Burling (Tauranga) and Kerikeri Laser sailor Andrew Murdoch.

The trio knew a welcome had been planned but were amazed by the size of the crowd, more than half the town's population, and were visibly moved by the haka powhiri performed at the Domain by students of Kerikeri High School's kapa haka group. Tuke said he knew a family friend was organising "a bit of a welcome," but he had not expected what he saw, with the whole of Kerikeri High School and primary students travelling from Kawakawa."

"It was cool to see so many friends and family in the crowd, and seeing how proud everyone was of what we've achieved. It made us feel proud to be New Zealanders and to be from Kerikeri," he said.

Peter Burling, whose family hails originally from Whangarei and whose grandparents live in Kerikeri, said the parade outshone all the other welcomes so far.

"This is by far the biggest crowd in the smallest community," he said.

Burling was heading to Croatia to compete in a foiling moth sailing champs, but Tuke's goals for the next few weeks were to relax and savour the moment.

"Pete and I have a lot of opportunities coming our way but we're not going to rush into anything. We're going to enjoy this, it's not every day you win a silver medal," he said.

"I'll also catch up with friends and family. We've been pretty selfish over the past four years; now it's time to give something back."

A keen spearfisherman, Tuke is also hoping get back out on to the water soon, but this time for some serious fishing and free diving.

The last Northlander to stand on the Olympic dais was Whangarei equestrian Blyth Tait, who won gold and bronze at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Tuke's silver is thought to be Kerikeri's first Olympic medal.