Royal Guard at the Atalanga residence 

It is a beautiful balmy, peaceful day in Auckland and the King is at rest.  Groups of mourners have gathered outside the gates of the New Zealand Royal Residence.  Nearby streets have been cordoned off by the Police and there is quiet calm in the normally busy suburb of Epsom.

 

 Guests building at Atalanga

When you enter ‘Atalanga Royal Residence from Landscape Road, the fences are draped in purple and black cloth.  There are many men and women in black sitting quietly on woven mats under the trees in the tropical gardens.  Men in black wearing ta’ovala, stand at every corner of clean, crisp lawns.  

 

Atalanga garden 

The tropical plants and trees on ‘Atalanga grounds lend a strong sense of Tonga.  The late King lies in an ornately decorated white house surrounded by leafy plants.  There are guards stationed outside in crisp white military uniforms.  Their heads are bowed. 

Dignitaries arrive at the wrought iron gate entrance on St Andrews Road.  The first official visitor to ‘Atalanga this morning was Rt. Honourable Helen Clark, the Prime Minister of New Zealand.  She arrived at 9.30am accompanied by several of her Ministers, including Luamanuvao Winnie Laban, Associate Minister of Pacific Island Affairs. 

The Programme of official visitors is constantly adapting to accommodate the interest and well wishes from representatives of national and international communities.  King Te Arikinui Tuhetia Paki is expected to arrive later today with a Tainui delegation.    As the late King lies in state in Auckland, other guests include:

9.30am             Rt Honourable Helen Clark (Prime Minister)

                        Hon. Luamanuvao Winnie Laban (Associate Minister Pacific Island Affairs)

                        Hon. Parekura Horomia (Maori Affairs)

                        Rt Honourable Winston Peters (Foreign Affairs & Trade Minister)

                        Hon. Phil Goff (Defence Minister)

10.00am            Mr Keith Locke (MP, Green Party)

10.15am            Mr Nigel Hampton. Q.C. former Chief Justice of Tonga

10.30am            Consul General for China

10.45am            Honourary Consul, Panama

11.00am            Consul General for Japan

11.15am            Director of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Auckland

11.30am            Director General of NZSIS and the Police Commissioner

12.30pm            President of Kiribati 

1.00pm             Hon. Georgina Te Heuheu

2.00pm             Mr Rod Fenick, Chancellor of the Order of St John

2.30pm             Dame Catherine Tizard, Dame Silvia Cartwright and Mr Ken Richardson

4.00pm             Mr Rodney Walshe, Consul-General, Ireland

4.30pm             Honourable Anand Satyanand, Governor General of New Zealand

5.30pm             Hon Dr Don Brash (Leader of the Opposition) and Mr John Hayes (MP)