The NZ Athletics team came READY to compete at the Olympic games last night.
On arriving at the Olympic Village the team was greeted with what appears to have been a powhiri (traditional Maori welcome ceremony) from the rest of the Kiwi athletes in Paris.
Pole vaulter Eliza McCartney shared her thanks for the warm welcome in te reo Maori'.
Her message translates to: "I just want to acknowledge you for meeting us, for coming here to welcome us. We have finally arrived to compete at the Olympic Games and we are so proud to compete and represent Aotearoa New Zealand."
"Indeed, unity is fundamental. I'm not an expert at speaking Maori, but it is only right that I respond in kind to your greetings," Eliza added. "So thank you to each and every one of you."
"Tino ataahua 🥹🤍," our very own Tegan Yorwarth commented.
"Wow, you won gold with this korero girl. Who needs the games you have won the hearts of Aotearoa 👏," said another. "Ka mau te wehi inspirational ??."
A third echoed: "Not the getting emotional 🥹😅🥹 He tino whakahihiko te pononga o te reo Maori ??🖤."
"When NZ is on the world stage, it's our culture that separates us from the world," added a fourth. "How lucky are we? 🙌🙌????."
Eliza, along with her two teammates Olivia McTaggart and Imogen Ayris will compete in the pole vaulting finals on Thursday, 5am NZT.
