Newspaper Article 1986 – A Royal day to remember

The Hawkes Bay Herald-Tribune

Wednesday, February 26, 1986

A Royal day to remember …

Bringing you today’s reports and pictures of the Hawke’s Bay visit of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh yesterday involved a large number of the Herald-Tribune staff in an exercise planned like a military operation.

The chief difficulty to be overcome was getting the colour photographs to Wellington and back in time; the colour separations needed to print them cannot be produced in Hawke’s Bay.

With just the bare amount of time to make the journey, a Herald-Tribune courier was despatched to catch the Air New Zealand flight scheduled to leave Napier at about the same as the Royal plane.

Two minutes later, word came that Wellington airport was closed. So another staff member drove to Wellington with them, stayed while the separations were completed, then drove back in the early hours of this morning.

The results of a major team effort (it involved more than 300 pictures alone) are on this and the next two pages.

And there’s more. As part of its Panorama section on Tuesday the Herald-Tribune will bring you another two pages of colour photographs of the visit.

Above: Young warriors stamp back as the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, escorted by members of the official party, march toward the dais at Nelson Park, Hastings, yesterday.

Right: Stepping forward with gentle chants of welcome – powhiri performers greet the Queen.

Below: Red, white and blue gloves worn by Mrs Winifred Hart, Tauranga, were flown especially from her homeland – England.

The Queen chats with well-wishers during the walkout route on Marine Parade.

Set for a Queen – the glitter and shimmer of crystal and silver are surveyed by the proud staff of the La Ronde restaurant, Napier, shortly before the Royal luncheon.

Tradition and pageantry

Above: The national hui at Nelson Park, Hastings, yesterday opened with the spectacular performance of more than 1200 young people from throughout New Zealand giving the wero (challenge) and powhiri (welcome) to the Queen and Duke against a backdrop of a crowd of 5000.

Left: Mr and Mrs Charles Mohi who escorted the Queen and Duke to the dais at Nelson Park.

Right: The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen’s hostess, Mrs Te Maari Joe (front), Mrs Wairakau Mohi and other members of the official party greeted fifty Maori elders.

Putting heart and soul into their performance – a powhiri (welcome) for the Queen and Duke.

All’s well that ends well …

Turned away one minute – greeted by the Queen – the next …

A diligent policewoman insisted that two young Canadians, Miss Barbara MacLean (right) and Miss Rita Bourn, would not be able to use the La Ronde amenities before the Royal walkabout on Napier’s Marine Parade yesterday.

Luckily the two young women held on and were able to meet the Queen later in the morning.

“She saw our Canadian flag and cruised over,” said Miss MacLean. “She said New Zealand is a nice place to visit.”

The day the Queen came to town

Maori pageantry gives the Royal visitors a welcome to remember at Nelson Park, Hastings.

The two Hawke’s Bay kuias who presented the Queen with gifts – Mrs Hana Cotter, Napier, and Mrs Ruruhia [Ruruhira] Robin, Hastings.

Dignity first – then action

Sir Hepi Te Heuheu got the formal part of the welcoming ceremony over – and then joined the ranks of performers for the action at Nelson Park.

Sir Hepi made a short speech to the Queen and Duke before stripping off his jacket and leaving it on the park’s running track.
Obviously enjoying the chance to be part of the action at the national Maori welcome, Sir Hepi sang and danced with the rest of the Rangiwewehi party, Rotorua, performing the waiata for the Royal couple.

Luncheon a delight, say guests

Guests at yesterday’s civic luncheon for the Queen and Prince Philip were “buzzing” with excitement after the Royal couple left.

A crowd of 500 cheered and clapped when the Queen left the Memorial Hall to depart for Hastings.

Guests praised the luncheon. Most of the 160 who were invited described it as “a great honour.” There were 60 special guests.

The host, the Mayor of Napier, Mr Dave Prebensen, said the luncheon “went off very well…it was very pleasant.”

“The Queen and Prince Philip thanked me very much for a very nice luncheon,” he said.

In his speech, Mr Prebensen said Royalty provided an example in the community for people to look up to.

“In this day and age it is important our society has an example to look to and Royalty provide a way of life we can look toward and appreciate,” he said.

The hard work the members of the Royal family did for the Commonwealth “gave witness to the community,” Mr Prebensen said.

He told the luncheon the Royals provided “stability” in a world which was threatened at all levels.

Mr Prebensen told the Royal couple that the city of Napier held them in “high esteem” and there was always high interest in their activities.

The general manager of the Carter Oji Kokusaku Pan Pacific mill at Whirinaki, Mr Stuart McKinlay, and his wife, Ivy, said the luncheon was “very good” and Mr Prebensen’s speech was “excellent.”

Mrs McKinlay said she was as [a] little disappointed the Queen did not reply to his speech.

Mr Alan Howlett, chairman of the Hawke’s Bay Art Gallery and Museum Society, and his wife, Judith, said it was “very pleasant and a beautiful meal.”

“Everything went smoothly without a hitch and the waitresses and stewards were impeccable,” said Mrs Howlett.

Monseigneur [Monsignor] Tim Hannigan, the parish priest for St Patrick’s parish, Napier, said: “It was a magnificent occasion and a great atmosphere.”

He said guests were mixed at tables and “if you didn’t know many you soon made friends.”

Monseigneur Hannigan said Mr Prebensen “spoke very much to the point.”

The chairman of the Hawke’s Bay County Council, Mr Selwyn Begley, and his wife, Moira, said it was “a great occasion. Everything went off well and we were certainly lucky with the weather.

“It was a very meaningful occasion.”

The medical officer of health for the Department of Health, Dr Gordon Perera, and his wife, Sita, said simply: “It was very good.”

Napier Girls’ High Schools’ head pupil Lynley Wiig said: “It was really good and a great honour.”

St Joseph’s Maori Girls’ College head prefect Stephanie Oliver said she thoroughly enjoyed it. “It was a big honour.”

It was really an experience, said Colenso High School’s head girl, Joanne Ross. “We mixed around and really got to know people.”

Nelson Park resounds as Maoris greet Queen

Nelson Park resounded to the sounds of traditional challenges, action songs, dances and a delighted crowd’s thunderous applause when Maori tribes from throughout New Zealand welcomed the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh to Hastings yesterday.

Sounds of cheering and clapping swept around the stadium as the Royal entourage drove into the park at 2.30pm.

The 5000-strong crowd of young and old waved flags and let out whoops as the Royal couple stepped out of their Rolls-Royce.

And the public loved it when the Queen began her reply with a Maori greeting in response to speeches of welcome and waiatas during the two-hour Royal hui.

She congratulated the Maori people on their success with kohanga reo programmes.

The Queen was wearing a kiwi-feather cloak over her dress. The Duke’s grey lounge suit was also covered by a kiwi cloak.

They were greeted by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Tapsell, and Mrs Tapsell. They were then introduced to other members of the official party by Mr Tohara Mohi and Mrs Wairakau Mohi both elders of the local Ngati Kahungunu tribe.

Following the introductions the Queen and Duke turned to face the crowd and the wero (challenge) from more than 1200 young people began.

The challenge reached its climax when Mr Steven Hepari laid the small carved kopere on the ground. It was retrieved by a young, white-coated officer, on behalf of the Queen.

As the women’s welcome ended the performers opened ranks and the Queen, escorted by Mr Mohi, and the Duke, by Mrs Mohi, followed by the official party walked up to the dais.

The Queen was greeted by her hostess Mrs Te Maari Joe and presented with a bouquet.

The stadium echoed with first strains of God Save Our Queen – the traditional song was sung before the opening prayer which was delivered by the Rev. Canon Wi Huata.

Host and introductory speaker from the Ngati Kahungunu Mr Taanga Tomoana set the oratory rolling when he welcomed the Royals to “the fruit bowl of New Zealand.”

Sir Henare Ngata, supported by a waiata from the Waihirere party from Gisborne, referred to the Treaty of Waitangi and its guarantees of the Queen’s protection for land rights.

Other speakers made references to a rebirth of Maoridom.

The Minister of Maori Affairs, Mr Wetere, welcomed the Royals on behalf on all Maori people.

The Queen looked impressed with the waiata performed by Maoris from the Taniwharau party after Mr Wetere’s address.

Sir James Henare spoke briefly.

“Welcome home,” he said.

“This is not just another welcome… but a welling from every Maori bosom. ”

Many of the welcoming parties had tucked cameras under their traditional dress to snap shots of the Queen when they had played their part.

People from the Takitimu district including many of Hawke’s Bay’s Ngati Kahungunu tribe finished off the formalities with a popular waiata before the Queen spoke.

While they were performing Mrs Ruruhira Robin and Mrs Hana Cotter presented the Queen with a kete (flax bag) and the Duke with a carved tokotoko (stick).

The Duke was obviously delighted with the Takitimu people’s waiata which was accompanied with flashing coloured canoe paddle blades.

Mongrel stops the cavalcade

A small mongrel dog stopped the Royal cavalcade in Hastings yesterday afternoon when it wandered into the path of the Rolls-Royce carrying the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh along St Aubyn St.

As the cavalcade approached the Pakowhai Rd intersection the mongrel made its move.

The driver braked, the Royal couple spotted the dog – and the Queen took advantage of the brief halt to wave to the crowd lining the street.

Then her cavlacade [cavalcade] moved off, heading for the Hawke’s Bay Airport.

No hongi, if you please

The Queen quickly averted two attempts at a hongi by the host representing the Ngati Kahungunu tribe, Mr Taanga Tomoana.

According to the district co-ordinator for the Royal tour, Mr Peter MacGregor, Maori elders were well aware that the Queen would not be involved in any hongi.

“But it was just a very natural reaction of greeting – Mr Tomoana did not intend to slight the Queen at all.”

However, Mr Tomoana was able to perform a hongi with the Duke of Edinburgh. The Duke also participated in the greeting custom with several other elders.

Centenarian Mrs Winifred Alexander, Hastings, turned out to see the Queen yesterday. With her is her daughter Mrs Ruth Scott.

Guards meet the Queen

Four Hawke’s Bay men, who are members of the Dominion executive of the Guards Association of New Zealand, attended a function aboard the Royal yacht Britannia in Auckland on Monday.

Messrs L. Hayes (Coldstream Guards), Taradale, E. Machin (Grenadier Guards), Clive, K. Shirras (Coldstream Guards), Hastings, and W. Creighton (Scots Guards), Haumoana, were introduced to the Royal couple.