Queen treated to smooth landing at Wellington

11.15 am

Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh were treated to a smooth landing today when their chartered flight from Jamaica touched down at the notoriously windswept Wellington Airport at 9.25 am.

Only a slight breeze blew as the British Airways Boeing 777 carrying the Queen and Prince Philip landed 15 minutes earlier than scheduled for the start of their five-day visit to New Zealand.

There were a few anxious moments when the door to the aircraft could not be opened because it was blocked by the steps in front of it.

After officials removed a handrail from the steps, the door was opened.

The Queen emerged, accompanied by Prince Philip, and appeared relaxed as she chatted with her husband.

The royal couple were met by officials including Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright, Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton (standing in for Prime Minister Helen Clark who is overseas), Defence Force chief Air Vice Marshal Carey Adamson, Labour MP Georgina Beyer and Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast.

Onlookers lined the windows of Wellington's domestic terminal for a glimpse of the Queen but the crowds that in the past had turned out for royal visits were absent.

The 75-year-old monarch is on a 15-day tour in her golden jubilee year. It is her 10th tour of New Zealand.

A poll released today showed the visit was unlikely to generate much interest among New Zealanders.

The One News-Colmar Brunton poll showed 58 per cent of people believed the monarchy had little or no relevance to their lives.

Just 7 per cent said the Queen remained "extremely relevant".

Despite general apathy toward the royals, just 33 per cent of respondents nationwide said the country should dump the Queen as head of state and become a republic.

After Queen Elizabeth took the salute from a royal guard of honour, a combined defence forces band struck up God Save the Queen.

She then inspected the royal guard of honour before the band played Pokarekare Ana.

After a few words with members of the welcoming party, including an exchange between the Queen and Ms Beyer -- believed to be the world's only transsexual member of parliament -- the royal couple boarded a flight for Taupo at 9.55 am.

They will spend two days, mostly free of engagements, at Taupo's exclusive Huka Lodge.

Returning to Wellington on Sunday, the Queen will unveil a consecration stone at St Paul's Cathedral while Prince Philip presents Duke of Edinburgh awards to 60 young people.

They then travel to Christchurch on Monday where they will visit Burnham military camp before flying back to Wellington for a state dinner at Parliament.

On Tuesday the couple fly to Auckland to visit Team New Zealand at their America's Cup base, before leaving on Wednesday for Adelaide.

- NZPA

Royal Visit 2002