Prince William sad to leave NZ

Prince William has expressed sadness at leaving New Zealand after a three-day tour where he was treated as a chief by the Māori people, immersed in local culture, and became the first royal to have an official visit tracked on social networking sites.

From the time the 27-year-old future King of England stepped off his plane on Sunday (17.01.10) in Auckland to his departure from Wellington today (19.01.10), he embraced indigenous New Zealand culture and enthusiastically took part in everything from a hongi to a hangi.
Before flying out to Australia, Prince William told media that he’d enjoyed his New Zealand trip so much that he didn’t want to leave and that he hoped to return for the Rugby World Cup in 2011.

Full schedule
During his time on New Zealand soil - his third visit - Prince William had a full schedule with both formal and casual engagements in Auckland and Wellington.

In just 48 hours he met a real kiwi - of the feathered variety - at a bird sanctuary on Kapiti Island, sailed Auckland harbour with Team New Zealand yachtsmen, walked the hallowed turf of Eden Park with leading All Blacks, charmed the New Zealand public on a traditional royal walkabout and got a taste of good kai at a hangi and a typical Kiwi barbecue.

The visit was Prince William’s first unaccompanied foreign tour in his official capacity as Queen Elizabeth’s representative, and was considered his most significant step yet towards becoming a future king.

Supreme Court, Wellington
The main purpose of the royal visit was the official opening of New Zealand’s new Supreme Court building in Wellington.

In-keeping with his status, the young prince was treated as a chief by New Zealand Māori and presented with a cloak or korowai made of flax and kiwi feathers.

The cloak was designed by renowned weaver Erenora Puketapu, who had presented a similar ceremonial garment to William’s mother the late Diana Princess of Wales when she visited New Zealand - with nine-month-old William - in 1963.

After a traditional Māori welcome or powhiri on his arrival at the new Supreme Court, Prince William enthusiastically participated in a hongi - a traditional pressing of noses - with four Māori dignitaries.

Nga Iwi o Taranaki, the leader of the Wharehoke Wano group who performed the welcoming haka, said Prince William was a chief and was welcomed as a chief.

"The spirits of our ancestors were telling us to welcome him as they once respected William’s ancestors," he said.

New Zealand values
It was a relaxed Prince William who went about his unofficial and more formal engagements, and he charmed New Zealanders by speaking of his affection for the country and its people.

"The overwhelming impression I have is of a nation that believes passionately in itself, in the value of democracy, in each other and other peoples, and in the rule of law.

"New Zealand’s values are ones that I greatly admire. They have deep roots in our heritage and constitutional history. In New Zealand today, of course, that shared history is only one part of the story.

"For the country's rich legacy is also derived from the Māori, New Zealand's first people, from the Treaty of Waitangi and the enduring partnership between the Māori and the Crown. This dimension is unique to New Zealand and its constitution," Prince William said.

Royal digital era
As well as mentioning the value of democracy, he talked about New Zealand being a "young, entrepreneurial and forward-looking nation" and joked about the fact that the country had managed to catapult his family into the digital ether.

"The Queen [Buckingham Palace] started tweeting a few months ago and now, thanks to New Zealand, I am being Bebo-d and Facebooked for the first time - rapidly catching up with my grandmother," he said.

Thousands of fans gathered to catch a glimpse of Prince William during his Auckland and Wellington tours, and he reinforced his Prince Charming reputation by winning over eager fans and taking time out for an unscheduled walkabout outside the Supreme Court.

Relaxed Kiwi visit
During his visit Prince William endured some good natured banter about his receding hairline, and showed his quick wit when he suffered a below-the-waistline hit by a wayward rugby ball at Eden Park.

The New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand had endeavoured to make sure Prince William’s New Zealand visit was informal with "no emphasis on protocol and stiff shirtedness."

They said they wanted the prince to mix and mingle with people of his own age in a traditional, relaxed Kiwi manner.

As well as a Pacific-themed party in the grounds of Government House Auckland, where he feasted on meat and vegetables cooked in a traditional Māori hangi, Prince William also experienced a Kiwi barbecue where he shared the cooking with Prime Minister Key.

Along with gourmet treats prepared by well-known chef Ruth Pretty, the prince shared a "banger" or Kiwi sausage with fellow guests including All Black captain Richie McCaw and singer Hayley Westenra.

Media interest
The prince's New Zealand visit generated unprecedented interest amongst the British media who followed his tour in large numbers not seen since the foreign tours of his mother, Princess Diana.

Before leaving New Zealand, William visited sick children at Wellington Hospital again flanked by an extensive media contingent. When his ability with children was likened to that of his mother, Prince William refused to compare it saying he wasn’t "anywhere near her level".

As he departed for Sydney the prince said his stay had been "fantastic, very welcoming, very warm."

"I wish I wasn’t going," he said.