The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall visit New Zealand

Day five: Saturday 23rd November

Today The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall spent a final day in New Zealand.

At Lincoln Farmers’ Market in Christchurch this morning, The Prince and The Duchess met stallholders and local residents.

The Farmers’ Market prides itself on supporting local people producing quality produce and handmade crafts. 

Their Royal Highnesses then carried out separate engagements. The Duchess of Cornwall met staff and survivors at Battered Women’s Trust, a charity dedicated to supporting families to live violence free. 

Formed in 1976, the Battered Women’s Trust have evolved to offer a range of services in collaboration with local services to provide a quick response for victims of domestic violence in the Canterbury area. 

Her Royal Highness then toured the Botanic Gardens in Christchurch. Over several decades, the garden has evolved into a fine collection of hundreds of New Zealand species, including the iconic silver fern. Before departing, The Duchess planted a tree to mark the visit. 

Meanwhile, The Prince travelled to Kaikoura, where His Royal Highness received a Maori welcome at Takahanga Marae. 

His Royal Highness heard about the history of the Ngāti Kuri Iwi and their migration to the region, and saw some traditional art that illustrates this history before meeting local residents in Kaikoura Square.

In 2016, Kaikoura faced a magnitude 7.8 earthquake and today The Prince had the chance to meet people involved in the post-earthquake response.

To end the Royal visit to New Zealand, The Prince of Wales embarked on a coastal walk in Kaikoura and His Royal Highness was able to hear from key figures working to protect the local environment. The Hutton’s Shearwater Colony is a species unique to the Kaikoura region, and during the walk The Prince learnt about the conservation initiative to protect these migratory seabirds.

Day four: Friday 22nd November

Today Their Royal Highnesses continued their tour to New Zealand, visiting Christchurch where they met those affected by the mosque attacks earlier this year, as well as the earthquake in 2011. His Royal Highness also gave a keynote speech on the State of the Global Environment at Lincoln University.  

The Prince and The Duchess first visited Tuahiwi Marae, a tribal meeting ground, where they received a traditional welcome. 

Their Royal Highnesses then joined Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at Cashmere High School, which was greatly affected by the March 2019 mosque attacks, with many people associated with the school killed, including two current students, and others injured.  

His Royal Highness spoke to students at the school and praised them for the remarkable way in which they responded to this terrible tragedy. In a speech, The Prince said: 

In this regard, my wife and I have been so greatly heartened by the way that the people of Christchurch, and of New Zealand, have come together in quiet but determined defiance of those who seek to sow such division.  You have held hands, to support your neighbours and to demonstrate to the world that there is no place for hatred in this society.  The remarkable efforts of the students here at Cashmere High School have made such a great difference in this regard, and are worthy of the highest praise.

 

Next, His Royal Highness attended a reception for the Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Trust, of which he is now Patron. During the 2011 Canterbury Earthquake, which killed 185 people, Christ Church Cathedral was severely damaged when its tower toppled onto the main building. The project to reinstate the building aims to provide a safer and more functional space. With stabilisation works already underway, it is estimated the Cathedral will be completed within the next seven to ten years.

 

During the afternoon, Her Royal Highness undertook a series of visits in Christchurch that connect with her work in supporting young people with reading and writing, as well as projects that help the older generation to age well.

First The Duchess met students who entered this years’ Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition and presented them with their Gold Awards before revealing the theme for the 2020 competition.

   

Her Royal Highness then visited a Salvation Army Centre and joined Senior Chef Members in the kitchen learning about the benefits of eating well whilst improving their cooking skills, confidence and motivation around cooking for just one or two people.

Finally, The Duchess watched performances from the Silver Swans, a programme facilitated by the Royal Academy of Dance to provide ballet lessons designed for the elderly, and the Rockers of Ages Choir, who performed a medley of Queen Songs.  

Meanwhile The Prince delivered an address at Lincoln University, highlighting His Royal Highnesses’ observations about the State of the Global Environment.

During the address, he said: 

We have, I am afraid, reached a defining moment in human history - a tipping point at which we still have the ability to change course - but really only in the next ten years – so a very small window, after which there may be no going back.  

Read the full address here.

Day three: Wednesday 20th November

On day three of Their Royal Highnesses visit to New Zealand, they travelled to the Bay of Islands to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds - one of the most significant sites in the history of New Zealand.

The Prince and The Duchess received a formal Māori welcome and His Royal Highness spoke during the ceremony.

In a speech, The Prince said:

For as long as I have known this country and her people, I have been deeply struck by the commitment of New Zealanders to doing what is right, even when it is not easy. New Zealand has faced up to the most painful periods of her past in a way that offers an example to the world. She has done so with courage, compassion and tolerance – qualities which, it seems to me, define the New Zealand character, as displayed so conspicuously following the recent atrocity in Christchurch.

Following the welcome, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall met with guests from the Māori community during a reception and then toured the Treaty Grounds and the Waitangi Museum. 

His Royal Highness then visited Queenstown Resort College Tai Tokerau, and met with young people who are developing environmentally sustainable start-ups through the Prince’s Trust New Zealand Enterprise programme.

Meanwhile, The Duchess visited Kerikeri Primary School and met children in the school’s garden participating in the Garden to Table programme, which encourages children to grow their own vegetables in the garden and then learn to make recipes in the kitchen from the food they have grown. 

Her Royal Highness then met the school’s therapy dog, Meg, and joined children reading to the dog. 

To end the day, The Prince visited the local fire station in Paihia and met with the Chief Fire Officer, firefighters and first responders, all of whom are volunteers. 



Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ) relies on 11,000 volunteers to help keep communities safe. Volunteers make up 85% of the personnel and provide essential services across the country, particularly outside the major cities.

Stay up to date with the Royal visit to New Zealand by following #RoyalVisitNZ on Twitter and Instagram. 

Day two: Tuesday 19th November

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall enjoyed a traditional Māori welcome from members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force on the lawn of Government House as they began their second day of engagements in New Zealand.

Their Royal Highnesses were greeted by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Chief of Defence Force Air Marshal Kevin Short before The Prince went on to meet the Leader of the Opposition, Simon Bridges.

The Duchess joined a Domestic Violence Roundtable at Shine, together with survivors and national campaigners.

Shine (Safer Homes in New Zealand Everyday) supports thousands of victims of domestic violence through a helpline, crisis advocacy and two women’s refuges in Auckland.

The Duchess of Cornwall has highlighted the work of domestic abuse charities in the UK and overseas for a number of years. Earlier this year, The Duchess visited IMMA, an association that provides counselling for victims of sexual abuse, domestic violence and trauma, in Munich.

Later, Her Royal Highness, as President of the Southbank Centre’s Women of the World Festival (WOW), joined a series of discussions and roundtables at a Women Of The World Think-In hosted by the Governor-General of New Zealand Dame Patsy Reddy at Government House. 

Meanwhile, The Prince had a private meeting with Jacinda Ardern before visiting Sea Cleaners. Sea Cleaners are a group of volunteers who work to clear plastic from the coastal waters around New Zealand. His Royal Highness boarded a vessel and joined the crew on a short ‘plastic patrol’ around the Harbour. The Prince of Wales first spoke publicly about his concerns regarding the impact of plastic pollution on the natural world in 1970. Since then, His Royal Highness has been an advocate for sustainability and waste reduction.

After attending a tea for The Prince’s Trust New Zealand, His Royal Highness went on to meet with representatives from Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities to discuss Sustainable Urbanization in the Auckland Area.

Their Royal Highnesses also visited the team headquarters of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron who will compete in the America’s Cup in early 2021. The America’s Cup is the oldest trophy in international sport. It was first contested in 1851 and has been raced for 35 times in its 157 years.

Their Royal Highnesses rounded off the day’s engagements with a reception hosted by the Governor-General at Government House.

Stay up to date with the Royal visit to New Zealand by following #RoyalVisitNZ on Twitter and Instagram.

Day one: Monday 18th November

Their Royal Highnesses officially began the Royal Visit to New Zealand today after arriving in the country yesterday. Spending their first day in Auckland, The Prince and The Duchess first paid their respects at a wreath laying ceremony at Mount Roskill War Memorial, the site of a well-attended community ANZAC day commemoration each year.  

The service began with a drum roll and The New Zealand National Anthem was sung before His Royal Highness laid a wreath. After pausing for a moment of reflection, the Last Post was sounded, the New Zealand Niuean flags lowered to half-mast and the call to remembrance read before a minutes’ silence was observed.

Their Royal Highnesses also learnt of the experience of Niue soldiers who served during World War I and Her Royal Highness placed a floral tribute on the memorial. Their Royal Highnesses were introduced to Ode Readers and gathered veterans before departing.

Next, Their Royal Highnesses toured the facilities at Wesley Community Centre. The Prince and The Duchess met groups including The Bike Kitchen which runs the Bikes for Refugees programme and Tatau Dance Academy that teaches traditional dance to boys and young men aged 7 to 20 years.

The Prince went on to meet Rui Peng and Adam Ransfield who co-founded the company Critical Design in 2013. Peng and Ransfield use innovative technology to turn plastic waste into material that can be used to manufacture other products. Companies send their plastic waste to Critical Design in order to have it transformed into goods such as furniture or office supplies.

Their Royal Highnesses reunited at Hunting Lodge Winery, the site of the first Sauvignon Blanc Grapes grown in New Zealand, where they sampled wines and learnt of the history of wine in the region. They visited various food and wine stations set up by local food producers and wine makers and conclude the visit by making their own blend.

The day’s engagements concluded with The Queen’s Colour Ceremony and reception at RNZAF Whenuapai Airbase where His Royal Highness took the Royal Salute, inspected the Guard of Honour and as Marshal of the RNZAF, oversaw the consecration and presentation of the Colour.

The Prince followed in the footsteps of his mother, The Queen, who personally presented her Colour to the NZ Air Force at Whenuapai in 1953.

During a speech, The Prince of Wales said: “Over the decades since The Queen first gave you her Colour, you have upheld your proud traditions of service and duty, whilst continuing to adapt and to rise to the challenges of an ever-changing world.

“For my part, I need hardly say how proud I am of all of you, and just how much I value this bond with you - today and for the future.”

Stay up to date with the Royal visit to New Zealand by following #RoyalVisitNZ on Twitter and Instagram.