All you need to know about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's NZ visit

Friday, 5 October 2018

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex being greeted by cheering crowds on a UK appearance. The couple are soon to head to New Zealand.

Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, will visit New Zealand from October 28 to November 1, with a heavy emphasis on youth initiatives.

The Duke and Duchess will arrive in New Zealand on Sunday, October 28, after attending the Invictus Games in Sydney and visiting Fiji and Tonga, and will make stops in Wellington, Abel Tasman National Park, Auckland and Rotorua.

'The Duke and Duchess have a particular interest in youth, mental health and conservation, and they will have the opportunity to meet many New Zealanders working in those important areas, while also getting to enjoy some of our unique environment,' Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in a statement.

'The Duke and Duchess will be travelling to New Zealand with a number of our Invictus athletes on the same plane and I look forward to meeting them when they land.

* Kiwis reveal codenames for Harry and Meghan**

'I know many New Zealanders are looking forward to welcoming the Duke and Duchess back to Aotearoa, their first time here together. It's exciting that Their Royal Highnesses are using their time in New Zealand to highlight the important issues of mental health and conservation.'

On October 28, Harry and Meghan will be officially welcomed at Government House before heading to Pukeahu National War Memorial Park for a wreath laying ceremony, and to view the UK War Memorial.

Later that evening, they will attend a reception hosted by the Governor-General celebrating the 125th anniversary of women's suffrage in New Zealand.

On October 29, the Duke and Duchess will visit Wellington's Maranui Cafe, where they will meet young people from a number of mental health projects operating in New Zealand, with a particular focus on supporting mental wellbeing among youth.

From Wellington, the Duke and Duchess will travel to Abel Tasman National Park, where they will be welcomed by local iwi and will embark on a bush walk to learn about the history of the park, environmental issues, and conservation projects. Before leaving, the Duke and Duchess will join local youth ambassadors and school children at a beach barbeque.

That evening, back in Wellington, Their Royal Highnesses will visit Courtenay Creative, where they will meet a number of young creatives demonstrating their skills in make-up, costume, and virtual reality.

On October 30, Harry and Meghan will travel to Auckland, where they will firstly visit Redvale on the North Shore to dedicate an area of native bush to the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy. After unveiling the plaque, they will hear more about the ecological importance of the bush, before joining children in a gumboot throwing contest.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will highlight the important issues of mental health and conservation during their New Zealand visit.

The Duke and Duchess will then visit Pillars, a charity supporting children who have a parent in prison through special mentoring schemes. As a wedding present to Harry and Meghan, the NZ government gifted $5000 to Pillars, and Their Royal Highnesses will have the opportunity to meet some of the young people who have directly benefited from this funding.

Later that afternoon, they will have the opportunity to meet the people of Auckland during a public walk at the Viaduct Harbour, before attending a reception hosted by the Prime Minister at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. The reception guests will be predominantly young people who are making significant contributions to the wellbeing of their communities.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wed in Windsor in May.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will visit Wellington, Abel Tasman National Park, Auckland and Rotorua during their New Zealand trip.

On October 31, the Duke and Duchess will travel to Rotorua, where they will visit Te Papaiouru Marae, for a formal pōwhiri and luncheon in their honour. They will also have the opportunity to meet young local people.

Next, they will head to Rainbow Springs to learn more about the centre's kiwi breeding programme, before visiting the Rotorua Government Gardens for the chance to meet members of the public. The Duke and Duchess will then visit Redwoods Treewalk where they will learn more about the forest's history as they take on the tree walk, and will meet groups of local mountain bikers.

Their Royal Highnesses will return to Auckland that evening, before leaving New Zealand on Thursday, November 1.