When Mrs Walsh got to hold a kiwi she exclaimed: "I love it here." Later Walsh told Hawke's Bay Today, "We want to come back here and volunteer in support of this project. I don't yet know the ways we can help ... yet, but I want to be part of it."
Asked if he might move to New Zealand, the veteran musician said: "Oh yeah! I need to spend more time in New Zealand. That is screaming at me."
Reboarding the helicopter, headed for Hawke's Bay Airport and a flight to Auckland where the family will stay until flying back to the US tomorrow night, he said, "Thank you, Hawke's Bay."
"We will," he said, "be back."
It was his third trip to Hawke's Bay.
Asked when he would be back, he said: "About 20 minutes."
The day had clearly ticked more boxes for Walsh, who arrived about 24 hours earlier to pay further homage to Otatara, the historic pa site where he says a "moment of clarity" overlooking Hawke's Bay in 1989 paved the way for overcoming an alcohol and drugs addiction which had gripped his life.
He had returned there in 2004 to support a campaign against the "evil" methamphetamine, and at a gathering transferred to the nearby EIT marae because of the wet weather, he told how it was now 21 years since he touched alcohol or drugs.
Yesterday, questioning the effectiveness of environmental campaigns in the US, he said: "We knew that New Zealand is a beautiful country.
"It's a special place, and the people are so much more in tune with nature."
"I'm seeing things that I did not know existed," he said. "It's broadening my knowledge and awareness, in terms of the big picture."
The Walshes are returning to the US where they have a special engagement at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions on April 18, the new members including Mrs Walsh's brother-in-law, 74-year-old former Beatles drummer, Ringo Starr.
Walsh, 67, will rejoin the Eagles for the May 19 start of a 10-week, 24-concert History of The Eagles tour of the US.
