The Queen Mother
Visits New Zealand

This year were again privileged to welcome Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother to our country.

In the 19 days from her arrival at Bluff to her departure from Auckland on 4 May, the smiling Queen brought joy to the hearts of

old and young, with the genuine personal interest she took in everyone she met.

She had a friendly word for all; for the veterans she met on Anzac Day; for the children all over the country who shouted their welcome; for the old, the sick and the blind, to whom she went with a special greeting; for those who entertained her; for people in all walks of life whose duties brought them into contact with her.

In reply to the welcome given by the people of Rotorua, the Queen Mother said. ‘All of us, European and Maori alike, are one people linked by similar ideals and interests and by a common loyalty to the Crown. I rejoice in the phrase “tatau, tatau,” a sentiment in which I believe with all my heart.’

May the gifts given in glad acknowledgement of our love and loyalty ever remind her of this visit to our shores.

Throughout the sunny weekend hundreds came to pay homage to the dead chief of the Tainui people, Kingi Koroki.

They came to be greeted with a chant of welcome and lament from black-dressed women, their heads wreathed in green.

They came from every major tribe, Te Arawa, Te Taitokerau, Ngati Porou, Tuwharetoa, Ngati Kahungunu, from Wanganui and Taranaki, bringing with them their gifts and songs of grief.

They came, Maori and pakeha, noble and humble, old and young, in large groups and small, from every part of the country.

They came representing churches, governments, universities, schools, cities, boroughs, and other organisations.

They came bearing messages of sympathy from many races, notable among them being Prince John Ulu valu, son of the Premier of Tonga, Prince Tui'pelehaka, with his party of men and women dressed in black with plaited mats about their waists — their own traditional sign of mourning.