KEY POINTS:
More than 1000 supporters gave New Zealand's Olympic team an enthusiastic welcome at Auckland Airport this morning.
The team was greeted with cheers and many autograph-hunting children when they walked into the arrivals area nearly two hours behind schedule about 9.20am.
Team chef de mission Dave Currie said it was the biggest welcome home he could remember.
All the medalists were present apart from 1500m bronze medal winner Nick Willis.
First out were the medallists led by a delighted Valarie Vili who had to push through to meet her sister and family.
"I am very happy, very proud, I have done a country of four million people, done my family proud, my parents," Vili said.
She said she would spend six days at home before she heads off to Europe next week for further competition.
Most looked exhausted after the 13 hour flight.
Vili and rower Mahe Drysdale drew the biggest crowds.
Also popular was BMX cyclist Sarah Walker, for whom supporters had trekked from Kawerau and Whakatane.
The three swimmers Dean Kent, Corney Swanepoel and Cameron Gibson, who were banned from the team's closing party following a prank on another team member, were also on the flight home, though media could not find them in the arrivals area.
The trio were expelled from the Olympic Village in Beijing on Monday after taking a photograph of a drunk teammate sitting on the toilet late and circulating it to other members of the New Zealand team.
They spent their final night in a hotel in Beijing and were excluded from the final NZOC team function.
Swimming New Zealand chief executive Mike Byrne would not comment on what possible further punishment might be handed down.
"Once the team management and the swimmers and NZOC get back in the country we'll meet with them and review everything and decide at that stage whether any further action is necessary," he said.
- NZPA
