The captain of the waka Prince Harry paddled up Whanganui River yesterday offered to provide a list of ladies for the young royal - but warned him that Whanganui's women might be too much to handle.
Ned Tapa sat just behind the prince, something he described as a huge honour for the Whanganui iwi.
Earlier, Mr Tapa said he had a list of women he could present to the Prince as prospective wives. That prompted another crew member to wonder, "Will he be able to handle them?"
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Mr Tapa agreed.
"They're beautiful women, but oh, the old mouth when it goes. I don't know if he could handle that."
Realising some of these women were listening, he hollered, "Sorry, Aunty!" and quickly added he wished Prince Harry the best in finding a woman.
Mr Tapa had carved a hoe [paddle] which was gifted to Harry and Mr Tapa made it clear it was to use rather than to admire.
Prince Harry later admitted to someone in the crowd that he was "knackered" from the 40-minute paddle.
He also admitted to a weak spot, or rather a bald spot, after someone said he was like his father, Prince Charles, saying, "Yes, I'm losing my hair like him."
Earlier, he'd impressed the locals at Putiki Marae with his te reo Maori mihi.
There, he recalled his uncle Prince Edward had spent a year in Whanganui and was a regular visitor to the marae.
After the paddle, Harry went to the Whanganui War Memorial centre to meet about 180 veterans.
George Adams, a Malaya veteran, said they were most impressed with Harry. Mr Adams even rated him more highly than his brother, William.
"Harry beats him hands down," he said. "You couldn't get better."
World War II veteran Ronald Dixon was also impressed. "He's just a normal man like us. We like him."
Mr Dixon married again just three years ago so he too had some advice for Prince Harry to find love: "You don't find them, they find you."
Harry afterwards emerged to greet his adoring fans, and a few hopeful ladies just as the rain started. He spurned an umbrella and got soaked.
Today, the Prince visits Southern Cross Campus School in South Auckland, the Auckland Spinal Rehabilitation Unit of Middlemore Hospital and the youth programme at Turn Your Life Around Trust in Mangere.
Later he will have official audiences with Prime Minister John Key and Opposition leader Andrew Little, and attend a reception hosted by the Governor-General to recognise the emergency services.
Harry's New Zealand agenda
Saturday, May 9: Wellington
• Arriving in New Zealand, greeted by Governor-General at Government House.
• Visiting the National War Memorial and Anzac Square.
• Attending Hurricanes vs Sharks Super 15 rugby match, Westpac Stadium.
May 10-11: Stewart Island
• Meeting locals and travelling to Ulva Island, a Department of Conservation open island sanctuary.
May 12: Christchurch
• Visiting the Quake City exhibition, mall, and meeting student volunteers from Canterbury University.
May 13: Palmerston North
• Visiting Linton Military Camp. He is to be taught the Army's haka.
May 14: Wanganui
• Powhiri at Putiki Marae followed by a waka experience.
• Meeting with veterans and a walkabout.
May 15: Auckland
• Visit to Southern Cross Campus School where he will view a cultural performance and meet with students.
• Visit to spinal rehabilitation unit.
• Visit to Turn your Life Around.
• Visit to Government House. There will be an evening reception to recognise emergency services.
May 16: Auckland
• FIFA U20 event, followed by a walkabout at The Cloud.
• Visit to High Performance Sport New Zealand at Mairangi Bay.
- additional reporting: Wanganui Chronicle