'Overwhelming': Adams gets gold at last

Double Olympic shot put champion Valerie Adams has at last had her golden moment in front of a 2500-strong crowd of cheering Kiwis.

Everyone was on their feet in the Cloud on Auckland's waterfront as Adams was presented with her gold medal from London by Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae at a ceremony on Wednesday evening.

"Tonight we've reconvened the audience of 4.5 million New Zealanders," Sir Jerry told the crowd.

Fellow London medallists including Mahe Drysdale, Hamish Bond, Eric Murray, Lisa Carrington and Sarah Walker formed a guard of honour around Adams as she was presented with her gold medal.

At the end of the national anthem, performed by the choir from Adams' former high school Southern Cross Campus, Adams raised her arms in the air.

"This is more than I expected," she said, before she threw her bouquet of flowers into the crowd.

As the New Zealand flag was raised inside the Cloud, the flag on the Auckland Harbour Bridge was also raised, while the Sky Tower was lit up gold for the occasion.

Adams told media the medal ceremony on Kiwi soil made up for the golden moment she missed in London.

"Tonight's just been absolutely amazing, very overwhelming," she said.

"It was actually fantastic, nothing out of my imagination, this is all perfect."

Gold medal kayaker Lisa Carrington said it was special to be able to share in Adams' success.

"It feels awesome to have a gold medal next to Val, she's been at the top of her game for a very long time and to be able to share that is really awesome."

Adams said she's now going to spend some time resting and relaxing with her family.

However, she does hope to be at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

"As long as the body's in one piece, I'm cool, I'm good to go."

The medal ceremony was screened live on television, streamed online and shown on a big screen on Wellington's waterfront.

Fireworks displays in Auckland and Wellington concluded the celebration.

Adams arrived at Auckland International Airport on Wednesday morning, where she was met by boisterous crowd of about 100 people including family, wellwishers and media.