Dalai Lama to visit New Zealand in May

The Dalai Lama will visit New Zealand for five days in May, his trust said today.

He is scheduled to arrive in Wellington on May 27 and depart from Auckland on May 31.

He will speak at a public forum in Wellington the day he arrives and will give a lecture in Nelson on May 29.

He will give an address to high school students and give a public talk at Eden Park in Auckland on May 30.

His office in Dharmsala said the Dalai Lama was in good health following a recent illness.

The Tibetan spiritual leader put off a tour of North America and Europe earlier this month to recover from a recent illness.

The Tibetan government-in-exile said his illness was brought on by exhaustion and the 66-year-old leader has been advised to take complete rest for three months.

The Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 with thousands of supporters after a failed uprising against China.

Since then, he has headed a government-in-exile in the northern Indian town of Dharmsala. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his non-violent struggle against Chinese rule.

- NZPA