Australian officials did not negotiate with their Chinese counterparts and had nothing to do with the release of Penrith woman Kalynda Davis, the New Zealand government has revealed.

Ms Davis made a surprise return home on Tuesday after being detained in China for nearly a month, initially accused of smuggling up to 75 kilograms of ice out of the country.

Kalynda Davis was reported missing only to surface in Chinese custody.

Friends celebrated her return with tears and hugs on Wednesday, bringing gifts to the family's Glenmore Park home and posting happy snaps of the former private school girl.

"The last month has been a daily struggle but today i sit here with tears of happiness I can't even concentrate, drivin off the road and shit haha. so happy!," a close friend, Dan Stella, posted online.