THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL VISIT NEW ZEALAND
Christchurch
Friday 22nd November
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The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall visit Tuahiwi Marae
On arrival, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will be greeted by Dr Te Maire Tau, Upoko Rūnanga (Head) of Ngāi Tūāhuriri and Arapata Reuben, Chair of Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga. Their Royal Highnesses will receive a traditional welcome ceremony, accompanied throughout by their kaitiaki (hosts), Joh Robert Crofts and Elizabeth Kereru. During the Whakamanuhiritanga ceremony, The Prince and The Duchess will wear korowai, Māori cloaks. The ceremony will include the Kranga, a call of welcome, the Haka Pōwhiri, dance of welcome, Whaikōrero – Hau Kāinga, speech of welcome from the hosts, Whaikōrero – Manuhiri, a speech of welcome from the guests, and the Hongi and Harirū, pressing noses and shaking hands. Their Royal Highnesses will then join a reception before departing.
Tuahiwi is a small settlement located in North Canterbury and is the home of Ngāi Tūāhuriri, the descendants of the eponymous ancestor Tūāhuriri. Ngāi Tūāhuriri is a sub-tribe of the major South Island tribe Ngāi Tahu. Tuahiwi has played a vital role in Ngāi Tahu history. It is the place where successive generations of Ngāi Tahu have gathered to discuss tribal affairs and to strategise a future.
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The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall visit Cashmere High School
Their Royal Highnesses will be joined on this visit by Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand. Joe Eccleton, Principal of Cashmere High School will greet the Royal Party and introduce Head Boy, Okirano Tilaia. Entering the school hall, The Prince and The Duchess will view a performance by the Kapa Haka Group. Matua Detroit Stirling will then perform the mihi whakatau or speech of welcome. Their Royal Highnesses and the Prime Minister will take their seats on the stage before Okirano delivers welcoming remarks. His Royal Highness will then speak. Their Royal Highnesses will then have the opportunity to meet students before moving into a private meeting with students and their families who were affected by the mosque attacks in Christchurch earlier this year.
One of the largest high schools in Christchurch, Cashmere High School, was greatly affected by the March 2019 mosque attacks, with many people associated with the school killed, including two current students, and others injured. Head Boy, Okirano Tilaia, led the youth movement supporting victims of the attack through food and toy drives and the Students Uniting in Love vigil.
Following the attacks, The Prince of Wales sent a message to the people of New Zealand saying: “This appalling atrocity is an assault on all of us who cherish religious freedom, tolerance, compassion and community. I know that the people of New Zealand will never allow hate and division to triumph over these things they hold dear.” The message is available in full here.
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The Prince of Wales attends a reception for Christ Church Cathedral at Turanga Library
Their Royal Highnesses will arrive together with the Prime Minister and be greeted by Lianne Dalziel, Mayor of Christchurch, Peter Guthrey, Chair of Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Trust and Peter Carrell, Bishop of Christchurch Diocese. Her Royal Highness will then proceed to the library, while His Royal Highness joins the reception. Remarks will be made by the Mayor and the Bishop before His Royal Highness unveils a plaque. Richard Wallace, Māori Bishop for the South Island will close the ceremonies with a prayer. The Prince will then have the opportunity to meet assembled guests before moving over the road to the Cathedral site to view its progress.
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, better equipped for future worship and civic events. With stabilisation works already underway, it is estimated the Cathedral will be completed within the next seven to ten years.
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The Duchess of Cornwall attends a Literacy Event at Turanga Library
Her Royal Highness will join a workshop for young people participating in The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, accompanied by David Eggleton, New Zealand Poet Laureate. The event will cover the three themes of poetry, fiction and writing for journalism. The Duchess will then be introduced by John Latham, President of the Royal Commonwealth Society’s Canterbury Branch New Zealand and have the opportunity to present a Gold Award for the 2019 competition and address the assembled students, revealing the theme of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition for 2020.
The Duchess of Cornwall, as Vice-Patron of The Royal Commonwealth Society, has presented awards to the winners of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace for several years running. Most recently, Her Royal Highness presented certificates to the four winners of the 2019 competition on October 31st. The Duchess launched last year’s competition in Ghana, saying: “As a passionate believer in the power of the written word I look forward, with huge anticipation, to reading the winning entries and presenting the awards at Buckingham Palace next year.”
The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition is the world’s oldest international writing competition for schools and was founded in 1883 to promote literacy, expression and creativity among young people throughout the Commonwealth.
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The Prince of Wales will visit the Christchurch Cathedral Site
His Royal Highness will have the opportunity to visit the site of Christchurch Cathedral.
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The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall visit Cathedral Square
Their Royal Highnesses will have the opportunity to meet members of the public in Cathedral Square.
ENGAGEMENT 30 – To be announced
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The Duchess of Cornwall attends an event for Active Elderly at the Salvation Army Centre
Her Royal Highness will be greeted on arrival by Jane Callahan, Senior Chef Coordinator for Pegasus Health who will introduce staff from Senior Chef and the Salvation Army. The Duchess will visit the kitchen where she will have the opportunity to join Senior Chef Members in preparing a meal before learning about how the programme benefits older people. Her Royal Highness will then move to the gymnasium to view a performance by Silver Swans, a programme facilitated by the Royal Academy of Dance to provide ballet lessons designed for the elderly. The Rockers of Ages Choir will then perform a medley of Queen Songs. Senior Chef Coordinator Wendy Scanlon from Pegasus health will then invite Her Royal Highness to launch the Senior Chef cookbook. The Duchess will then have the opportunity to meet the performers before departing.
Active Ageing is a key focus of The Duchess of Cornwall’s work, encouraging and inspiring an older generation to keep fit, active and engaged, tackling the isolation and seclusion that many older people face. Her Royal Highness herself enjoys walking her dogs, hiking and swimming. The Duchess’s Patronages include The Silver Line, a confidential and free helpline for older people across the UK, and Royal Voluntary Service, an organisation dedicated to helping older people stay active, and feel valued and independent.
The Royal Academy of Dance developed Silver Swans in response to a growing demand for ballet classes for older learners, drawing upon research into dance practice for older participants from RAD’s Dance for Lifelong Wellbeing project. Silver Swans classes are delivered exclusively by Silver Swans Licensees who have trained to safely adapt ballet techniques for older adults, taking into account a range of abilities and ages. Initially launched in the UK and USA in 2017, Silver Swans is now truly global, with classes also available in New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Canada and Mexico. By the beginning of 2020, there will be over 1,000 Silver Swans Licensees across the world offering classes in their local community.
In February 2018, Her Royal Highness visited the Royal Academy of Dance headquarters in London to learn about their Silver Swans programme and joined in an exercise with singer Elaine Paige and broadcaster Angela Rippon. Learn more about the visit here.
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The Prince of Wales delivers a State of the Environment address at Lincoln University
On arrival, His Royal Highness will be greeted by Professor Bruce McKenzie, Acting Vice Chancellor of Lincoln University, and Kristy Havill, President of Lincoln University Students’ Association. Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Grant Edwards, will announce The Prince’s arrival to those gathered in the lecture theatre and deliver welcome remarks. His Royal Highness will then deliver a speech from the lectern. The Prince will move to the Architecture Building to meet with students of the School of Landscape Architecture. His Royal Highness will next meet postgraduate students working on Agribusiness and Commerce, Agriculture and Life Sciences and Society and Design. Bill Martin, Manager of the Biological Husbandry Unit, will then provide a showcase of his work for The Prince.
The Lincoln University State of the Nation’s Environment Address was introduced in 1999 on the initiative of the Professor of Nature Conservation, Ian Spellerberg, who believed that if New Zealand was to maintain its clean, green image there needed to be an annual forum for assessing how the environment is doing. The event follows the tradition of the State of the Nation addresses on political, economic and budgetary matters. The Address has attracted a number of notable New Zealand speakers in its 20 years.
Lincoln University dates back to 1880 when it was initially linked to Canterbury College. It is the smallest University in New Zealand, with just over 3,000 students in 2018. It has a strong agricultural focus and owns ten farms on the South Islands, which offer hands-on experiences for students and produce research solutions for the benefit of the sector.
For more than four decades, The Prince of Wales has used his unique position to champion action for a sustainable future. In the context of global challenges that include climate change, deforestation, and ocean pollution, The Prince has promoted sustainability to ensure that the natural assets upon which we all depend among other things soil, water, forests, a stable climate and fish stocks endure for future generations. His Royal Highness believes that economic and social development will best succeed when it works in harmony with Nature, rather than in conflict with Nature. In May 2017, His Royal Highness was awarded The GCC Global Leader of Change Award for his outstanding contribution to global environmental preservation and protection and for his passionate vision for a better future for humanity. The Prince was recognised as the acclaimed Lifetime Achievement Winner at the 7th International Green Awards in 2012. The International Green Awards’ Lifetime Achievement Award is a prestigious accolade, bestowed to individuals who have been committed to the sustainability cause and inspired others to positive action.
CATCH UP on the full New Zealand visit at the links below or for more of The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall’s most recent engagements, get a copy of the latest issue of Royal Life.
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 5 | Day 6
