30 November 2007
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) will parade a 100-man Guard of Honour of Navy, Army and Air Force personnel as part of the State welcome for His Highness Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi, Head of State Samoa, at Government House at 11.30am on Monday 3 December.
The ceremony will also feature the NZDF’s Maori Cultural Group performing a powhiri and wero (welcome and challenge), the Central Band of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and a 21-gun salute fired by members of the New Zealand Army’s 16 Field Regiment.
His Highness, who will be in New Zealand from 2-9 December, will be accompanied at the ceremony by their Excellencies the Governor General of New Zealand, the Honourable Anand Satyanand and Mrs Susan Satyanand. Air Commodore Terry Gardiner will represent the Chief of Defence Force at the ceremony.
At 2.00pm His Highness will lay a wreath at the National War Memorial and the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Buckle Street, in Wellington.
An Air Force catafalque guard will parade in support of the ceremony.
ENDS
For further information please contact Ally Clelland, Defence Public Relations
04 496 0273 or 021 569 130