Harry's new 'girlfriend' still buzzing (+video)

Prince Harry is greeted with a hongi by Ruatoki's Ohinemataroa Iti-Kereopa at Government House. Photo / Pool

Her face has gone around the world and she is even being referred to as Prince Harry's new girlfriend on social media.

But Ruatoki's Ohinemataroa Iti-Kereopa is taking it all on the chin. Actually - more on the nose.

Ms Iti-Kereopa was part of the New Zealand Defence Force kapa haka that welcomed Prince Harry into Wellington last Saturday.

She was photographed greeting the prince with a hongi at Government House and the picture has been seen worldwide.

Ms Iti-Kereopa has been amazed by the attention the image had received.

"So many people have messaged me saying they've seen it," she said. "It's pretty awesome."

Brought up in Ruatoki, Ms Iti-Kereopa said kapa haka had always been part of her life so progression to the Defence Force group after joining the Navy six years ago was a given.

Last Saturday she and one other were given the honour of greeting Prince Harry with a hongi.

"Usually one of the older ladies does the hongi but I asked, maybe even pleaded, to be given the opportunity and was eventually told yes."

As well as the hongi, Ms Iti-Kereopa was also the kaikaranga (the woman who carries out the karanga) at the official welcome.

Prince Harry watches a traditional Maori greeting as he attends a ceremony of Welcome at Government House. Photo / Pool

Prince Harry receives a wero during a welcome ceremony at Government House. Photo / Pool

Prince Harry performs a traditional Maori greeting or 'hongi' with Lewis Moeau he attends a ceremony of Welcome at Government House. Photo / Getty

Prince Harry performs a traditional Maori greeting or 'hongi' as he attends a ceremony of Welcome at Government House. Photo / Pool

She said Prince Harry asked how long she had been in the military and also said it was fortunate members of the Defence Force kapa haka did not have to perform the welcome wearing their full military uniform.

Some of the posts on social media in response to the photo have resulted in a few laughs for Ms Iti-Kereopa and her family.

On an entertainment website Facebook page, the caption under the photo says: "This picture of Prince Harry and a beautiful Maori woman has made headlines about the woman being Harry's new girlfriend because of the face-to-face contact.

"It's only a traditional Maori greeting, called The Hongi."

Many of her friends have joked about being famous with one suggesting she should have curled her eyelashes before the photo was taken.

"It's been amazing and I'm still buzzing even now."

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