Lorde slams NZ media welcome as 'sad'

Grammy-winning singer Lorde was swamped by fans and media when she arrived home to Auckland this morning - and the pop star wasn't happy about the reception she received.

The 17-year-old touched down after a whirlwind week in Los Angeles which saw her become a global superstar, taking time to meet adoring fans, sign autographs, pose for photographs and talk to the media, despite being "very tired" after a long flight.

But Lorde later slammed the waiting New Zealand media for almost pushing over her family during her arrival, calling it "a bit of a sad welcome if I'm honest".

"nz media almost pushed over myself and my family at the airport this morning in order to get their shots. bit of a sad welcome if i'm honest," she wrote in her first tweet.

In an uncharacteristic subsequent flurry of tweets, since deleted, the pop star then went on to say she was frightened by the media attention and called the media scrum unacceptable.

She said she was under a "constant, often lecherous gaze" and said she no longer felt safe in her "tiny home country".

She tweeted: "i understand that people of note are supposedly fair game for everyone to photograph and film but that doesn't make it acceptable.

"i'm beginning to get used to my image as a public commodity, and the fact that I'm getting used to it frightens me.

"there is a difference between attn from fans, which i love, and the constant, often lecherous gaze that i'm subjected to in this industry.

"i know that success comes with a price tag. it just sucks when you see that in your tiny home country where you previously felt safe."

View photos from this morning's arrival at Auckland Airport:

Image 1 of 11: Grammy winning New Zealand music artist Lorde arriving back in Auckland today from Los Angeles. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Air New Zealand staff performed a haka on the tarmac when her plane touched down and signs were displayed on the airport's noticeboard congratulating her on her success.

Air New Zealand crew welcomed Lorde back into Auckland this morning! pic.twitter.com/aHQADqPqoS

A loud cheer rang out when Lorde came out of the arrivals gates wearing casual clothes and dark rock star sunglasses. She was accompanied by her bandmates and parents Sonja Yelich and Vic O'Connor.

Read Lorde's letter to NZ: 'Joel & I won - holy crap'

Asked what it had been like to win two Grammy Awards, for Song of the Year and Best Solo Pop Solo Performance, she said it had been less daunting than when she picked up four New Zealand Music Awards last year.

"I feel like I was more, like, freaking out when I won my New Zealand Music Awards to be honest. Like, it's super cool but it becomes like a normal thing once you're amongst it."

Lorde, who has spent the last few days mingling with some of the world's most famous musicians including Sir Paul McCartney, said the person she had been most impressed by was pop diva Beyonce.

Asked what it was like to have become something of a national hero, she said: "I did gain like 200,000 Twitter followers''.

The North Shore teenager appeared overwhelmed as she was chased through the airport by camera operators and fans holding autograph books.

But she took the time to have a chat with many of those who came to meet her, including 15-year-old Cara Gibson.

"It was so cool. She's so pretty, she's stunning. I got some selfies with her, which was amazing.

"I just told her how amazing she was and congratulated her. She just said `thank you' and she was really lovely."

Lorde left the airport in a waiting taxi.

She will hardly have time to rest ahead of her show at Auckland's Silo Park tonight, which was arranged after she pulled out of the weekend's Laneway Festival in order to attend the Grammys.

Tonight's show is expected to sell out.