AUCKLAND: Britain’s Prince Charles and wife Camilla rubbed noses in a traditional Maori greeting in New Zealand yesterday, kicking off the final leg of a Pacific tour to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s diamond jubilee.
After traveling to Papua New Guinea and Australia, the royal couple touched down in Auckland late Saturday for a trip that will take in everything from whimsical hobbit feet to the devastation of earthquake-hit Christchurch.
They commemorated Armistice Day at the Auckland War Memorial yesterday, where members of the local Ngati Whatua iwi, or tribe, performed a Maori welcoming ceremony.
After formal speeches, Charles and Camilla pressed noses with the Maori representatives in a hongi, signifying the sharing of the breath of life, although the duchess’s hard-brimmed hat caused a minor difficulty.
“You can try,” she said as she leaned in to Ngati Whatua’s Grant Hawke, who later said it was “lucky she didn’t have a flat nose like mine.”
Prime Minister John Key said the enthusiasm of the crowd of about 500 who turned out to greet the royal couple reflected the affection New Zealanders have for the British monarchy.
“He’s the future King of New Zealand so it’s extremely important,” Key said.
“I think you can see by the polls around that New Zealanders’ support of the monarchy is extremely strong. If anything it’s been growing in recent years.”
However, the New Zealand Republican Movement has vowed to stage peaceful protests during the visit, calling for the former British colony to sever ties with the monarchy.
Chairman Lewis Holden said the first in line to the British throne lacked a genuine “Kiwi” connection and the royal link should be abolished and replaced with a popularly elected New Zealander.
“New Zealand needs an effective head of state, not a fly-in, fly-out, token head of state,” he said.
It is the seventh time Charles has visited New Zealand — most recently in 2005 — but the first time Camilla has traveled to the country.
While in Wellington, they will visit director Peter Jackson’s famous Weta Workshop to inspect costumes and props used in “The Hobbit” movies, the first of which has its world premiere in the city on November 28.
Charles is reportedly a major Tolkien fan and British media have cited Palace sources as saying “he is very much looking forward to seeing Bilbo Baggins’s foot.”
The prince will celebrate his 64th birthday in the capital on Wednesday at a gathering at Government House with 64 people who were also born on November 14, ranging in age from 18 to 101.
Val Baker was among those chosen from 1,500 people who lodged applications to attend the birthday bash and said while she was nervous about how to address the prince, she hoped to gain an insight into his everyday life.
“I’d just like to have a chat about general things,” she told Fairfax Media.
“I wonder if he cooks his own breakfast, or does he make coffee for Camilla in the morning? I’d love to know the simple things that they never let the public know.”
The royal couple will get a taste of rural life with a visit to the Feilding farmers’ market, where Charles will be able to indulge his long-standing interest in organic produce.
The trip ends on a somber note on Friday in Christchurch, where residents are still recovering after a catastrophic earthquake last year that claimed 185 lives.
Maori welcome for British royals in New Zealand
Maori welcome for British royals in New Zealand
Why some women choose Galentines over Valentines and how they might celebrate
- O’Sullivan is one of many women who find it empowering to focus on female friendship rather than relationship pressures
- Other ways to mark Galentine’s Day include going to a play, hiking, karaoke, playing cards or just having coffee
Christie O’Sullivan of Trinity, Florida, has spent 21 Valentine’s Days with her husband, but her favorite celebration was one spent with a girlfriend before she got married.
They took the day off work, got massages, and went out for cocktails and a fancy dinner.
“For me, it was 10 out of 10. That whole day was intentional,” said O’Sullivan. She remembers it as empowering “on a day that’s usually filled with pressure to be in a relationship, or sadness because I wasn’t currently in one.”
Galentine’s Day became a pop culture phenomenon with a 2010 episode of the TV comedy “Parks and Recreation” that celebrated female friendships around Valentine’s Day. Amy Poehler’s character, Leslie Knope, gathered her gal pals on Feb. 13.
“What’s Galentine’s Day? Oh, it’s only the best day of the year,” said Knope.
Honoring female friendships can happen any day of the year, of course. Whether on Feb. 13 or another day, here are some ways to create a fun-filled experience:
Making it a party
Chela Pappaccioli of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, has been hosting a Galentine’s Day bash at her home for the last three years. She has a bartender and a DJ hired, and this year invited 45 of her nearest and dearest. So far, she has 34 confirmations, and is assembling gift bags for her guests to take home. There are no men allowed “unless the bartender happens to be male.”
The event may be extravagant, but Pappaccioli says it’s worth it.
“It’s an escape to just be with your girls, be silly, do something fun and just focus on the friendships you’ve created and enjoying each other’s company,” she says.
Learning how to do something new
Liz Momblanco of Berkley, Michigan, who describes herself as a “serial hobbyist,” invites her friends to take classes like cookie and cake decorating, calligraphy and stained glass.
“I enjoy learning something new and having a shared experience,” said Momblanco, who has attended day retreats for women that offer activities like floral arranging, yoga or a cold plunge.
Marney Wolf, who runs the retreat company Luna Wolf, says providing an opportunity for art and creativity builds community.
“It bonds you, whether it’s the smallest thing or really deep. You watch these grown women turn into almost like a childlike kindergarten response like, ‘Oh my gosh! Good job! You’re so talented!’ That little lift is the easiest thing to do,” she said.
Filling a Valentine’s void
Wolf takes care to schedule Galentine’s-themed retreats near Valentine’s Day because some women don’t have someone to spend Feb. 14 with.
“I know it can be a really lonely time for people and I think some take it for granted,” she says.
Pappaccioli said a couple of divorced friends come to her party, and “even if you’re married it can be depressing because your husband may not be doing what you want or your boyfriend may not support you in the way you want,” she says.
“It’s nice to know that you don’t need that. You can still celebrate the holiday, but turn it around a little bit and celebrate the relationships you want to.”
Creating different kinds of bonds
Galentine’s Day get-togethers can forge new friendships. And spending quality time with a friend provides an opportunity to put the phone away, avoid distractions and build memories.
O’Sullivan is a social media strategist for businesses but appreciates that her bestie Valentine’s Day was without cellphones.
“We could be fully present — no photos, no texts, no nothing,” she says.
“So while that means there’s no actual record of that day occurring, it also means the details became a core memory without it.”
Some celebrate Galentine’s Day by just going out for coffee or playing cards. You might go with a group of women friends to a play or museum, or take a hike or a workout class.
Other ideas include thrift store shopping, country line dancing, roller skating, karaoke, junk journaling, and getting manicures and pedicures.
