During her time there in the Southland city, she trained as an air traffic controller at Invercargill Airport.[1][3] At the 2011 Oceania Cycling Championships, she gained titles in team sprint, keirin, and the 500 m event.[2] This secured her a place at the 2012 Summer Olympics for the Keirin and the sprint.[4][5] Her preparation was distracted by her best friend dying of cancer, and Hansen returned to New Zealand in July 2012 for the funeral.[2] She came 12th in the sprint and 11th in the Keirin.[2]