NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Royal tour day three: Future King surprises politicians with New Zealand knowledge

Luke Kirkness
By Luke Kirkness
Sport Planning Editor·NZ Herald·
19 Nov, 2019 06:00 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

PM Jacinda Ardern and Simon Bridges meet with Prince Charles to discuss environmental initiatives and Commonwealth relations.
ROYALTOUR

Hundreds, not thousands, of people waited at Wynyard Quarter on Auckland's waterfront to greet Charles, Prince of Wales, and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

The event this afternoon was a stark contrast compared to the same time last year when Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, visited the same location.

READ MORE:
• Royals to return to Waitangi after 25 years
• Before Diana and Camilla, Prince Charles fell for another woman
• Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall's welcome Kiwi break

Regardless, there was plenty of cheer and applause for the royal pair as they made their way along the Wynyard Crossing and into the Quarter.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Pausing occasionally as they walked, Charles and Camilla spoke briefly to some royal fanatics as they swiftly headed towards Jellicoe St, shaking hands along the way.

Quinny Paaka was fortunate enough to have Charles stop in front of her and even got the heir to the Commonwealth throne to take part in a hongi.

Prince Charles and Camilla take part in a public walk in Auckland. Photo / AAP
Prince Charles and Camilla take part in a public walk in Auckland. Photo / AAP

"Truly, I don't know what came over me and I just said 'hongi āhau' … I'm not even sure if that's how you say it but he leaned in for a hongi," she said.

"Under his breath he said, 'that's great' and then just carried on."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Up until an hour before Charles and Camilla were due to walk down the waterfront, Paaka had little interest in the royal family, she explained.

"I was just here [for] the once-in-a-lifetime [opportunity to] come and see Charlie," she said, "We touched heads and it was awesome."

Prince Charles and Camilla were welcomed at Government House by PM Jacinda Ardern. Photo / Pool
Prince Charles and Camilla were welcomed at Government House by PM Jacinda Ardern. Photo / Pool
A member of the New Zealand Armed Forces during a haka for the royals. Photo / Jason Oxenham
A member of the New Zealand Armed Forces during a haka for the royals. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Official ceremony of welcome at Government House in Auckland for Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Official ceremony of welcome at Government House in Auckland for Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Official ceremony of welcome at Government House in Auckland for Prince Charles. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Official ceremony of welcome at Government House in Auckland for Prince Charles. Photo / Jason Oxenham

The day started for the royals at Government House in Epsom with the City of Sails putting on a bright, sunny day for Charles and Camilla's official welcome.

Members of the New Zealand Armed Forces performed a rousing haka for the royals before Charles did a royal salute and inspected the guard.

Discover more

Royals

Prince Charles and Camilla touch down: What they're doing next

17 Nov 06:38 AM
Royals

Wine, wool, Prince Charles' surprise job offer and a royal salute

18 Nov 01:20 AM
Royals

Royal Highnesses impress locals throughout Auckland

18 Nov 06:00 AM

Camilla was soon whisked away to speak at a roundtable discussion organised by domestic violence organisation, Shine.

Meanwhile, Charles stayed on the grounds of Government House where he met with opposition leader Simon Bridges and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Both politicians were amazed at how well informed the future King was with New Zealand and its matters, the Prince taking an interest in the environment in particular.

Prince Charles and Camilla take part in a public walk in Auckland. Photo / AAP
Prince Charles and Camilla take part in a public walk in Auckland. Photo / AAP
Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall take part in a public walk at Viaduct Harbour. Photo / Pool
Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall take part in a public walk at Viaduct Harbour. Photo / Pool
Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall take part in a public walk at Viaduct Harbour. Photo / Pool
Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall take part in a public walk at Viaduct Harbour. Photo / Pool

"He was well ahead of his time about knowledge around climate change and [it was] really fantastic to have a conversation with him about what's happening in New Zealand," Ardern said.

Charles and Bridges shared a jovial moment in front of media before their private meeting.

Charles joked quietly with Bridges about the photographers who snapped away thick and fast - the camera flashes like strobe lights in a nightclub.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

And as fast as the pair entered the room and shook hands, media were ushered out of the room and they began their meeting.

Prince Charles greets well-wishers at Auckland's Viaduct. Photo / Luke Kirkness
Prince Charles greets well-wishers at Auckland's Viaduct. Photo / Luke Kirkness
Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall visit Emirates Team New Zealand. Photo / ETNZ
Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall visit Emirates Team New Zealand. Photo / ETNZ

They discussed the future of the Commonwealth, trade and Bridges even handed the Prince a pot of honey from his electorate, Tauranga, he told media.

Meanwhile, Ardern donated 10 native trees to be planted in Charles' honour, she said.

Prince Charles and Camilla were welcomed at Government House by PM Jacinda Ardern. Photo / Pool
Prince Charles and Camilla were welcomed at Government House by PM Jacinda Ardern. Photo / Pool

Before the public walk, Charles spent time on the Waitematā Harbour with non-profit organisation Sea Cleaners.

On the boat, the Prince took part in a short plastic patrol before getting off at a wharf near the Viaduct where he met up with Camilla for the waterfront walk.

It was the first public engagement of the tour, with Charles and Camilla heading off to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds tomorrow.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Why an outspoken leader is resigning and returning to Rotorua

01 Jul 10:00 PM
Crime

Suppression lapses for father accused of murdering daughter, 5, by smothering her with a pillow

01 Jul 09:49 PM
New Zealand

Homicide investigation launched after body found at Freemans Bay property in Auckland

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Suppression lapses for father accused of murdering daughter, 5, by smothering her with a pillow

Suppression lapses for father accused of murdering daughter, 5, by smothering her with a pillow

01 Jul 09:49 PM

Police say he was arrested after taking his daughter's body to Manukau station.

Homicide investigation launched after body found at Freemans Bay property in Auckland

Homicide investigation launched after body found at Freemans Bay property in Auckland

Rotorua land once earmarked for bypass set for new development

Rotorua land once earmarked for bypass set for new development

01 Jul 09:42 PM
NZ Herald comments: The stories open for discussion today

NZ Herald comments: The stories open for discussion today

01 Jul 09:21 PM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP