Royal Tour: Mental health, conservation next on Harry and Meghan's NZ agenda

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle have already made a big impression since arriving in Wellington on Sunday. So, what's next for their five-day New Zealand trip?

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are set to visit Maranui Café in Wellington's Lyall Bay on Monday morning, where the couple will meet with mental health advocates. 

Jazz Thornton from non-profit organisation Voices of Hope says it's a thrill to have the royals acknowledge mental health, telling Newshub she "never, ever expected it".  

Prince Harry, 34, opened up about his own struggles with mental health while in Sydney for the recent Invictus Games. He said he's "been there" when discussing how mental health can affect servicemen and women. 

"The secret to the success of the Invictus Games has been accepting that mental health is the real key to recovery," the prince said at the Games' closing ceremony.

Newshub's royal correspondent Melissa Davies is following the royal couple in Wellington. She told The AM Show Harry and Meghan will be meeting with a range of mental health groups from right across New Zealand. 

Life Line volunteer and telephone counsellor Victoria Kendall has been personally touched by mental health, having lost her father and grandfather to suicide. She will meet Harry and Meghan face-to-face to talk about mental health.

"There are about seven organisations that have representatives here today, and about two-to-three people from each organisation," Ms Kendall told The AM Show. She said it will be "great to connect with [Harry and Meghan]" knowing they are passionate about the topic.

But the Duke and Duchess won't be sticking around in the capital for long. Newshub's Brooke Hobson says a quick trip to the South Island is on the cards for Monday afternoon. 

The royal couple will head to Abel Tasman National Park where they will meet with people in the area of conservation. They will get a chance to stretch their legs with a bush walk to learn about the park's history. 

The Duke and Duchess will then travel to Auckland on October 30 and pop down to Rotorua the next day. They will then leave the country on November 1.  

The Duchess of Sussex, 37, spoke at Government House on Sunday evening, about the 125th anniversary of women's right to vote in New Zealand. 

She even greeted the crowd with "tēnā kotou katoa," receiving a round of applause for her Māori language efforts.

Newshub. 

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