Rotorua's turn for Meghan Markle, Prince Harry's royal tour visit

It's the last full day of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal tour of New Zealand and they're in Rotorua with a jam-packed schedule.

On Wednesday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited the Redwoods Treewalk, Rainbow Springs, Te Papaiouru Marae and Government Gardens.

Once that's done, the royal couple will take a short hop back to Wellington before returning to Australia.

The live updates have now finished.

5:19pm - Harry and Meghan have waved goodbye as they leave the Redwoods Treewalk.

4:19pm - Harry and Meghan have reached the end of Queens Drive and are waving goodbye to the crowd. They're about to travel to Redwoods Treewalk.

3:51pm - Fans young and old are gathered in Government Gardens, with cheers moving along the crowd as people lay eyes on the royal couple for the first time.

Meghan is taking her time to speak with many of the women in the crowd, while Harry is often stopping to have cute interactions with the younger kids.

Overheard in the crowd: "You got to touch his hand!" and "Isn't he handsome?"

3:32pm - The crowd goes wild as the motorcade has arrived at Government Gardens for Harry and Meghan's public walkabout.

Over a loudspeaker an announcer says, "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for everyone here... ladies and gentlemen, Harry and Meghan have arrived!"

3:25pm - Harry and Meghan have given Māori names to two three-day old kiwi chicks - one from the Coromandel, one from Taranaki. One is named Koha, meaning 'gift', while the other is named Tihei, from the Māori saying 'tihei mauriora', meaning 'the sneeze of life'.

3:20pm - The Government Gardens is humming to the sounds of Lorde's 'Royals' in anticipation of the imminent visit.

Across the road at the Princes Gate Hotel, the staff have all dressed up to celebrate the occasion. Meanwhile a fan identifying himself as 'Major Blunder' has also dressed up for Harry and Meghan's visit, telling Newshub he also saw Prince Charles when he visited New Zealand in 2012.

Major Blunder celebrates Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal visit to Rotorua.
This man calls himself 'Major Blunder' Photo credit: Newshub.
The Prince's Gate Boutique Hotel celebrate Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal visit to Rotorua.
The Prince's Gate Boutique Hotel celebrate the royal visit Photo credit: Newshub.

2:45pm - Just minutes before the royal couple arrive at the National Kiwi Hatchery, a little kiwi was hatched!

Newshub's camera captured the moment the dear wee two-legged friend made its way out of its shell and into the world.

A kiwi is born at Rotorua's National Kiwi Hatchery as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit.
Photo credit: Newshub.

2:14pm - Artist Will Buchanan waits at Rotorua's Government Gardens to give the royal couple a drawing he has done of them as hobbits.

The back of the drawing has a blessing written on it in both English and Te Reo Māori, wishing the couple contemplates Earth's "beautiful, peaceful stillness" all of their days.

Artist Will Buchanan waits for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to give them a gift.
Artist Will Buchanan with his friend and drawing. Photo credit: Newshub.

1:43pm - Harry and Meghan have eaten and are now leaving to visit the National Kiwi Hatchery at Rainbow Springs, where they'll learn about the centre's breeding programme for New Zealand's national bird.

1:04pm - Even a local dog is excited to see Harry and Meghan. It's been spotted trying to get a good view of all the excitement.

A dog tries to see the action.
A dog tries to see the action. Photo credit: Newshub

12:48pm - The Duke and Duchess are chatting to chefs preparing the hangi for them. 

A chef is taking them through what she is cooking. 

12:27pm - Meghan spoke to the crowd, thanking Mayor Chadwick and other officials for making them welcome.

"Thank you for giving me this beautiful cloak, it is a taonga that will be treasured by out family for generations."

Prince Harry leaves the whare.
Prince Harry leaves the whare. Photo credit: Newshub.

12:26pm - A small child has presented Meghan with some lilles, after a speaker remarked they had heard lily of the valley is her favourite flower.

Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick has begun speaking, discussing Prince Harry's ancestors visiting the area.

"They would have seen that Rotorua is the heartland of Māori culture," she said.

People wait for the royals.
Photo credit: Newshub.

12:15pm - It's approaching time for Harry and Meghan to leave the whare and head to the dining hall for hangi.

A line of people eager to meet the royals has formed at the door of the whare. Harry is currently speaking and is nailing his speech in Te Reo.

Meghan looks very proud.

11:56am - The pair have entered the whare and are now listening to singing and speeches inside the Marae.

They will soon meet with youth from Te Arawa iwi to discuss Māori issues.

11:48am - Harry and Meghan are both wearing necklaces with green stones, perhaps the pounamu they were presented with on Tuesday?

11:43am - Apologies to those who were tuning into the livestream, we've had to turn it off due to those pesky technical difficulties.

11:40am - The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been presented with korowai cloaks made specifically for them.

Meghan's is mostly made from brown pheasant feathers but also includes some blue and green to represent the Pacific Ocean, with some representations to symbolise her pregnancy included.

Harry and Meghan in their cloaks.
Photo credit: Newshub.

11:38am - We're having technical difficulties with our livestream, will try and get it sorted as soon as possible.

11:31am - Harry and Meghan are well dressed for the occasion, he's wearing a grey suit with his military medals, while she's wearing a navy dress with three quarter sleeves. Both are wearing poppies.

11:29am - The royal couple has entered St Faith's Church. The weather has finally come to the party after the cloud and rain over the last few days and sunshine is glistening off Lake Rotorua.

11:27am - Watch the pōwhiri above live.

11:25am - Everyone is in position outside the marae, nervously awaiting Harry and Meghan's arrival. Last minute pōwhiri rehearsals are underway.

One of the leaders is briefing performers about giving "our whānau from England an awesome welcome".

People awaiting the royals.
People awaiting the royals. Photo credit: Newshub.

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