Maori Welcome For President Of Singapore

New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa

Media Release

24 April 2008

Maori Welcome For President Of Singapore

Members of the New Zealand Defence Force’s Maori Cultural Group will perform a traditional Maori welcome for His Excellency Mr S R Nathan, President of Singapore, at Government House at 10.00 am on Monday 28 April.

The powhiri and wero (welcome and challenge) will be part of the State Welcome ceremony supported by a 100-man tri-Service Royal Guard of Honour and the Central Band of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and will feature a 21-gun salute fired by members of the Army’s 16 Field Regiment.

President Nathan, who will be in New Zealand from 28 April to 2 May, will be accompanied at the ceremony by their Excellencies the Governor General of New Zealand, the Honorable Anand Satyanand and Mrs Susan Satyanand. Air Commodore Steve Moore will represent the Chief of Defence Force at the ceremony.

Following the welcome ceremony President Nathan will lay a wreath at the National War Memorial and at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Buckle Street, in Wellington.

A catafalque guard comprised of Navy, Army, and Air Force personnel will parade in support of the ceremony.

ENDS