Monday 4 April, 2016

Governor-General’s visit to the Central North Island (5-8 April)

Geothermal energy, junior environmentalists, and agricultural innovation will be part of the programme for the visit of the Governor-General, Lt Gen The Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae and Lady Janine Mateparae to the Central North Island.

The visit will begin on Tuesday 5 April with Sir Jerry and Lady Janine being welcomed onto Hirangi Marae by Ngāti Tuwharetoa. This event will have special significance as Sir Jerry has tribal affiliations to the iwi.

The next morning, (Wednesday 6 April) the Vice-regal couple will visit the Tongariro National Trout Centre, to look at how the site has been developed, and to be briefed on future plans, followed by a visit to Glen Emmreth Farm, home of Taupō Beef, to look at the work of the Lake Taupō Protection Trust and visit a Landcare Research laboratory. Wednesday’s activities will be rounded off by a tour of Miraka Milk at Mokai.

Thursday 7 April begins with a visit to the GNS Science Research Centre at Wairakei for a presentation on the centre’s latest research projects. Next up, Sir Jerry will visit master carver Delani Brown and his students while Lady Janine will have morning tea with some leading figures from Taupō’s arts and culture community.

On Thursday afternoon, Sir Jerry and Lady Janine will meet with students from the Kids Greening Taupō programme for an overview of their activities before Sir Jerry meets with the Harbourmaster team and the Taupō Coastguard, sees the new Harbourmaster patrol vessel and has afternoon tea with Honorary Enforcement Officers and Coastguard Volunteers. Thursday rounds off with a round-table discussion with local tourism and hospitality representatives during a scenic cruise on Lake Taupō.

The first stop on Friday 8 April will be a visit to Wairakei Estate Pastoral where activities will include a sheep-milking demonstration. This will be followed by a visit to Fiber Fresh Feeds for a tour of its processing facility.

The final visit will be to Murupara Area School to meet staff and students and observe classes taking place in the school’s newly built collaborative learning environments. Their Excellencies will plant a kowhai tree before leaving for Wellington.

ends

© Scoop Media