Dutch State Visit to New Zealand: Day 2, Christchurch

Today, Tuesday November 8, Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima spent the second day of their state visit to New Zealand in Christchurch.

The day started with a visit to the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, a wildlife park and nature reserve that is dedicated to the protection from the extinction of the kiwi, a New Zealand native bird. The Royal Couple met a kiwi bird and were informed about the breeding program of the reserve.

Then the King and the Queen paid a visit to the largest Maori tribal area in New Zealand, Ngāi Tahu. After a traditional Maori ceremony with the performance of a pōwhiri, a traditional welcome dance, and the Hongi greeting, the Royal Couple met with members of the community to discuss about sustainable and innovative farming and the financial development of the area.

.@NgaiTahu is de grootste Māori stam van het Zuidereiland en bedrijft moderne landbouw met behoud van traditionele cultuur #NLstatevisitNZ pic.twitter.com/rgWk8Mgg2Q

— Koninklijk Huis (@koninklijkhuis) November 8, 2016

Around noon, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima visited at the Canterbury Museum the exhibition “Quake City”, dedicated to the two devastating earthquakes that happened in Christchurch in September 2010 and February 2011.

In 2011 werd Christchurch getroffen door een aardbeving. Koningspaar spreekt betrokkenen en bekijkt de wederopbouw per tram #NLstatevisitNZ pic.twitter.com/grA1yZyYFM

— Koninklijk Huis (@koninklijkhuis) November 8, 2016

Later the Royal Couple made a tour through the center of Christchurch with a touristic tram to see the reconstruction and the redevelopment of the city after the tragic earthquakes.  In the afternoon the King and the Queen met with the Dutch community living in Christchurch.

Filed under The Netherlands
Tagged King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands, New Zealand, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, State Visit.