The 24-year-old claimed the Women’s Motocross Championship title in Italy earlier this month.
She has been in managed isolation since returning from Europe and will leave a quiet Auckland hotel room for a noisy reception at Dunedin Airport on Tuesday evening.
Duncan won her first series title last year and was greeted at the airport by about 100 family members, friends and supporters.
Somehow she held back the tears during an emotional haka from pupils from East Otago High School — her old school.
This time the Dunedin City Council has got in on the act. It has organised a kapa haka group to perform. The City of Dunedin Pipe Band will form a guard of honour and either Dunedin Mayor Aaron Hawkins or deputy mayor Christine Garey will greet Duncan upon her expected arrival at 6.30pm.
Dunedin City Council events team member Vicki Kestila said Duncan’s achievement had helped lift spirits in a year dominated by Covid-19.
‘‘It is a positive story and she has done great for a home town girl.’’
