Sportsmen know they are at Dunedin Airport when a lone bagpiper provides the mood music as they make their way to the team bus.
But it was the joint kapa haka group from King's and Queen's High Schools which stole the show yesterday.
They put on a stirring welcome for both the New Zealand and Pakistan cricket teams.
The sides will play a one-day international at the University Oval on Saturday.
Black Caps all-rounder Mitchell Santner appreciated what he said was a fabulous welcome.
''It was obviously pretty awesome to get such a special welcome,'' he said.
Several members of the Pakistan team used cellphones to film the kapa haka group's welcome, and later thanked group organisers and performers for the warmth of the greeting.
Pakistan team members were also led through the airport by the lone piper, and several of the cricketers found time to buy fresh strawberries and cherries from a fruit stall in the airport.
Laura Flett (18), who was working at the stall, said serving members of the two international cricket teams in one day was ''one of the highlights'' of her fruit-selling holiday job.
''You don't see that very often.''
The Black Caps lead the five-match ODI series 2-0 and can clinch the series win with victory in game three.
The team is undefeated at home this season.
It has won its last nine games across three formats and is chasing a record-equalling 10th consecutive win.
The Black Caps are also undefeated in five ODIs and eight tests at the University Oval.
