Prince Harry the first royal to paddle Whanganui river

Prince Harry sets off from Putiki Marae in a waka. PHOTO/STUART MUNRO

With a cheer from the crowd, Prince Harry became the first royal to paddle along the Whanganui River.

The royal was welcomed to Wanganui this morning with a powhiri at Putiki Marae, and delivered his own mihi in te reo Maori.

The Prince recalled his uncle Prince Edward had spent a year in Whanganui and was a regular visitor to the marae.

"Unfortunately I'm not able to spend a whole year in Whanganui like he did," he said during his speech.

He also quoted the Whanganui saying "I am the river and the river is me" and said it was "an extraordinary privilege" to be asked to travel on a waka on the river today.

A crowd of about 300 people including media gathered on the marae.

Before embarking on the waka journey, Prince Harry greeted the waka crew and posed for a photo while crowds of people on either side of the river waited.

The waka left from the Putiki slipway, with the Prince seated near the back.

Later today he will meet with about 180 veterans at the War Memorial Centre followed by a walkabout to meet the public.

Image 1 of 18: Prince Harry at Putiki Marae.

[See tomorrow's Wanganui Chronicle for full coverage of the Prince's visit.]