Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern holds post-Cabinet conference

People are invited to welcome Commonwealth Games athletes home at Auckland Airport on Thursday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says.

Ardern, and her deputy Grant Robertson, paid tribute to athletes who had won medals at the games held in Birmingham. The return flights land at 11.20am and 12.20pm on Thursday.

Ardern said during a post-Cabinet briefing in the Beehive on Monday that New Zealand was “in a golden era of high performance sport”. The event will allow them to be “warmly welcomed” home, she said.

She announced she will also meet with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on Tuesday.

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Sherman and Economic and Regional Development Minister Stewart Nash will sign the Framework Agreement that will provide new opportunities for our space sector and closer collaboration with NASA

She will also meet with Emergency Management Minister Kieran McAnulty to acknowledge the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the USA Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency and the New Zealand National Emergency Management Agency.

Robertson paid special compliments to long-distance runner, Sam Tanner

“He came sixth in a world-class field and at 21 years of age represents a new generation of athletes who have emerged from the games.”