The Black Ferns, sporting the Rugby World Cup gold medals they won a month ago, have been celebrated at a gathering on Parliament's lawn.
See the crowd meeting their heroes and how the ceremony unfolded here:
It is the latest celebration since the team defended their title last month with a thrilling 34-31 win over England in a sold-out Eden Park.
Fans across the country have had the opportunity to meet their heroes during the Black Ferns 'Thank you Aotearoa' tour.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has called the Black Ferns legends for their win, while Sports Minister Grant Robertson, who was at the stadium, said it was "fantastic" to watch.
Ardern thanked the Wellington crowd for coming out to celebrate.
"We will remember where we were when we watched those games during the World Cup, but we will especially remember where we were for that final."
It would have been an experience of a lifetime to watch the games in person, Ardern said.
"That's because they got to see in person how powerful this team is, the power of their haka, the power of their plays, the power of their sportsmanship," she said.
"I thought it was captured by one sign that stood there in that sold-out Eden Park crowd, held by one young fan, that said 'they're not girls, they're legends'."
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaking to crowds outside Parliament where the Black Ferns squad and crowds gathered to celebrate the team's World Cup win, on 13 December, 2022. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
On behalf of the crowd and MPs, Ardern thanked the squad for their efforts and "for making our national game everybody's game".
"Thank you for changing history, thank you for showing girls that they can do anything.
"Thank you for being world champions."
Wellington Mayor Tory Whānau said she was stoked to be standing alongside the squad as their "biggest Wellington fan".
The Black Ferns squad and crowds gathered outside Parliament to celebrate the team's World Cup win, on 13 December, 2022. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
"As we know, they unified this country. They reminded us all what it means to be a community that supports each other. You've lifted women's sports to a whole new level."
Co-captain Ruahei Demant said she never dreamed this was possible.
"There's probably more people here than my entire town combined."
Commonly heard from the team, player Ruby Tui explained the message behind the phrase 'like never before'.
A crowd gathered outside Parliament to celebrate the Black Ferns' World Cup win, on 13 December, 2022, sang happy birth to player Ruby Tui. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
"Everybody thought we were going to lose, everybody had doubts about us, I know there was some of in that last minute," she joked pointing to the crowd.
"We wanted to do something like never before, all the adversity that came at us everyday, it was all good ... like never before is something we came up with, we roll with it everyday.
"If there's something you want to that nobody has done, don't worry about it, like never before that's you, that's us, that's all of us, let's do it."
It was also Tui's birthday and the crowd and squad sang for her.
Then the crowd and squad sang along to the 1984 classic Poi E by Pātea Māori Club and were swinging their poi, which was given out by event organisers or saved by some lucky fans from the World Cup games.
Fans then took pictures and autographs with their heroes.
The Black Ferns squad and crowds gathered outside Parliament to celebrate the team's World Cup win, on 13 December, 2022. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Head coach Wayne Smith said he was proud and grateful.
"We talked about the power of oneness and part of that was ensuring we connected really strongly with community and with charity and events, and really that was more important to us at the time than the results.
"I think ultimately that strategy helped our results."
The players had shown courage on the field, whether that was in defence or attack or in the forwards, Smith said.
"We risked everything and we started seeing the attacking opportunity in every situation, and that takes a lot of guts but that was us.
"We wanted to represent our DNA in the country, our tangata whenua, our pioneers who settled this place.
"Our game is a great team game because you can be any size, any shape and still play rugby."
Head coach Wayne Smith speaks to the crowd outside Parliament, where the Black Ferns squad and fans gathered to celebrate the team's World Cup win, on 13 December, 2022. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
He also praised the co-captains, Ruahei Demant and Kennedy Simon, for their leadership and humility and leading by example.
As part of the team's tour, public events, skills and drills, street parades and meet-and-greets officially started on 5 December and will go through to the World School Sevens tournament in Auckland on Sunday 18 December.
Many New Zealanders have already celebrated with their home-town stars, with parades and events in Kaiatāia with Krystal Murray, Ōpōtiki with Luka Connor, Murupara with Natalie Delamare, while Ruby Tui took part in the Greymouth Santa Parade.
Players have also given back in Pacific communities, with Maiakawanakaukani Roos and Theresa Fitzpatrick returning to their roots in Rarotonga and Samoa respectively and taking part in public events.
Yesterday, Canterbury Black Fern players received a warm welcome home in Christchurch's Victoria Park.
The national women's side last week scooped most of the major prizes at the New Zealand Rugby awards, being named team of the year with co-captain Ruahei Demant taking three player of the year awards.