Prince Charles and Camilla pay visit to New Zealand after honour victims of Christchurch massacre

Prince Charles says New Zealand ‘offers an example to the rest of the world’ in its strength after Christchurch massacre and returns historic Maori cloak on his visit with Camilla

  • Prince Charles has become first British royal family member to visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in 25 years
  • It is a significant region in New Zealand’s history, where a treaty was signed between the Maori and Crown
  • Prince of Wales brought with him a korowai cloak originally gifted to Queen Victoria by a Maori chief in 1863
  • Charles praised nation for its commitment to settling issues arising from treaty and Christchurch massacre

Advertisement

The Prince of Wales has praised the ‘courage’ of the people of New Zealand for its response to the Christchurch massacre during an historic visit to the grounds where the country’s founding document was signed.

Prince Charles was joined by the Duchess of Cornwall as he became the first British royal to visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in 25 years on Wednesday.

Waitangi is a significant region in the history of New Zealand, where a treaty was signed on the relationship between the Maori and Crown, giving the indigenous people of the island the same rights as British subjects.

As part of the visit, Charles’ entourage brought with them a korowai cloak originally gifted to Queen Victoria by a Maori chief during a visit to the UK in 1863, with the cloak set to be displayed at a Waitangi museum on loan. 

During a speech given within the historic treaty grounds, Charles praised New Zealand for its commitment to settling issues arising from the document.

Prince Charles and Camilla share an intimate moment during their visit to the Te Kongahu, the Museum of Waitangi, during their visit to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds today

Prince Charles looks on during a formal Maori welcome at Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where a treaty was signed on the relationship between the Maori and Crown, giving the indigenous people of the island the same rights as British subjects

Prince Charles looks on during a formal Maori welcome at Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where a treaty was signed on the relationship between the Maori and Crown, giving the indigenous people of the island the same rights as British subjects

Prince Charles wears a traditional cloak as he performs a hongi with Mrs Titewhai Harawira during a visit to Waitangi Treaty Grounds today

Prince Charles wears a traditional cloak as he performs a hongi with Mrs Titewhai Harawira during a visit to Waitangi Treaty Grounds today

He said: ‘As long as I have known this country I have been struck by the commitment of her people to what is right, even when it is not easy.

‘New Zealand has faced up to the most painful periods of her past in a way that offers an example to the rest of the world.

‘She has done so with courage, compassion and tolerance, qualities which, it seems to me, define the New Zealand character and were displayed so conspicuously following the recent atrocity in Christchurch.

‘The Treaty settlements do not, and cannot, right all the wrongs of the past. They can only go so far in easing the pain that has been felt by so many people.’

Charles and Camilla on on the third day of their official tour of the country, and on Friday will visit the city of Christchurch, where 51 Muslim worshippers were killed during a March massacre.

During a speech given within the historic treaty grounds, Charles praised New Zealand for its commitment to settling issues arising from the document

During a speech given within the historic treaty grounds, Charles praised New Zealand for its commitment to settling issues arising from the document

Prince Charles was joined by the Duchess of Cornwall as he became the first British royal to visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in 25 years

Prince Charles was joined by the Duchess of Cornwall as he became the first British royal to visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in 25 years

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk