A speech by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall at the Otago University Literary Reception, New Zealand

After all, there can't be many cities where you can get a poem every time you buy a parking ticket! And by the way, I'd love that to be passed on in Britain!

So I am delighted to be in Otago, New Zealand's oldest University, where we are standing in this beautifully decorated Clocktower building; a reminder of the Scottish roots of many of the people of Dunedin.  Your Scottish heritage is deep in the DNA of this University and it was a very special treat to hear your current Robert Burns Fellow, Louise Wallace, reading her poetry.

Scotland is very close to my heart and like Robbie Burns, a piece of my heart is in the Highlands where I am the proud Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen.

But I also share another passion with you - a passion for books.  I was so lucky to have a father, an ardent bibliophile, who read to us night after night throughout our childhood.  He opened the door to that whole new world full of adventure and excitement, joy and sadness.  That world of books has remained a life-long pleasure.

Now I was already well-acquainted, in print anyway, with the rhyming stories and illustrations of Lynley Dodd, author of my grandchildren's favourite books 'Hairy Maclary' and it was lovely to meet her again today.  And I also had the great pleasure to present the Man Booker Prize to Eleanor Catton in London in 2013.  But it's been a wonderful opportunity to meet so many more New Zealand writers on this visit. And it will remain very special, this visit, to me. So it is hardly surprising that I feel at home here, celebrating with you this country's huge contribution to the world of literature. Thank you all so much for having me, and I shall return before too long.