Live: Prince Harry and Meghan touch down in Rotorua

The royal convoy has arrived at Ohinemutu to a fanfare of excited cheers.

There were claps as they exited the vehicle.

They have been greeted by Rotorua district councillor, cultural ambassador and Te Arawa Royal Visit co-chairman Trevor Maxwell.

Maxwell introduced the couple to his daughter Kahurangi Milne and Ana Morrison.

Reverend Tom Poata, The Right Reverend Ngārahu Kātene, Bishop of Te Manawa o Te Wheke and Wally Tangohau, parish council chairman greeted them inside.

Amid the hush of the more than 1000 welcomers, those in front of the meeting house are saying a traditional chant.

The couple are both wearing large greenstone necklaces.

Earlier at the airport, a group from a local kohanga reo has brought 14 children to the airport hoping to catch a glimpse.

Rotorua local Madeline Lauder has been waiting since 9.30am.

Meanwhile at Ohinemutu, Te Arawa are warming their voices with a powhiri run through.

Local Māori are preparing to welcome royalty to the traditional Māori geothermal village of Ohinemutu, on the shores of Lake Rotorua.

At Ohinemutu security are seen on street corners and those involved in the welcome are starting to park and make their way to Te Pāpaioūru Marae.

Three bus loads of international media have arrived at Ohinemutu where they, along with local media, will have their own pōwhiri at Tunohopu Marae, 50m away from the main marae.

International media are blown away by Rotorua’s hospitality following a formal welcome this morning, especially for them.

The Sun royal correspondent Emily Andrews from London said it was the first time in the whole tour the media had been welcomed especially.

“Rotorua has given us such an amazing welcome it was so lovely to have a formal welcome ceremony. To be personally welcomed and given food, which is is incredibly kind and touching, has made us feel fantastic. We love Rotorua.”

Eager royalists are already gathering at the Government Gardens, ensuring they secure a prime spot to see the Duke and Duchess during their 3.30pm walk.

Christchurch woman Angie Hira, originally from Rotorua, decided at the beginning of the royal couple’s tour she would come up to Rotorua to try meet Prince Harry.

“I contemplated staying the night just to make sure I got a good spot! I was expecting it to be packed already.

“I’ve loved the royals since I was 10. I would love to meet Harry today and have a bit of a korero.

“I would tell him I admire his tenacity and my whānau have been praying for him and his family.

Hira said she would pass the time by chatting with locals.

Meanwhile, suspense is building at a treewalk park in Rotorua ahead of Prince Harry and Meghan’s anticipated visit this afternoon.

The walk through the Redwoods Treewalk, a 700m-long walkway of suspension bridges between 117-year-old redwood trees is expected to be one of the highlights of a very busy day in the Bay of Plenty.

Redwoods Treewalk co-founder Bruce Thomasen told NewstalkZB it’s a glorious day in Rotorua, with not a cloud in the sky.

“We’ve got a lovely suspended bridge system through the redwood trees. We’ll put them through this canopy of beautiful forest and talk to them about the local stories.

“They will be with us a short amount of time, only 20 minutes with us.”

Thomasen said it had been a whirlwind putting together the plans for the visit as the forest trust only received confirmation when a press release was issued with the itinerary for the royal tour.

“The treewalk team are excited and my phone is going hot with ‘good luck’ and ‘congratulations’.”

Thomasen said he wasn’t as nervous to be meeting the royals as he was while waiting to talk with Mike Hosking this morning.

​The couple will head back to Auckland before flying out on Thursday.