Thousands welcome Olympic heroes in Kerikeri

More than 4000 people lined the main drag in Kerikeri today, in a show of support for local Olympic gold medalist Blair Tuke and sailing partner Peter Burling. The pair went above and beyond, with it taking well over an hour to complete the 500m journey along Kerikeri Rd. The champion sailors regularly leapt off the back of their parade vehicle to greet fans, take selfies and sign autographs. The boys then addressed a crowd gathered in Kerikeri domain, with Tuke describing the day as "very very special and humbling". "I've said it all along, I couldn't be prouder to be from the north, and to come back now with a couple of gold medals round our necks is a special moment for us. It's part of the reason we go so well, we know we've got the whole of the north behind us."

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