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It was the sort of reception reserved only for rowing royalty.
Rowing's champion double skullers Georgina and Caroline Evers-Swindell, fresh from their gold medal-winning exploits at the Beijing Olympics, were heralded as heroes when they finally returned home yesterday.
Thousands of jubilant locals lined the streets of Napier and Hastings to get a close-up look at the triumphant twins who swapped their boat for the back of a ute.
The ticker-tape parade ended with a civic reception hosted by Mayor Lawrence Yule, who discussed plans to celebrate the Kiwi legends, including a korowai (cloak), bronze statue or naming a park or street in their honour.
