The British Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, has unveiled a striking war memorial in Wellington as a gift from Britain.
Boris Johnson in front of the Weta Workshop designed statue at the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park. Photo: Pool / Marty Melville
Mr Johnson, who is on a two day visit to New Zealand, presented the statue at the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park this afternoon.
The statue - designed by Weta Workshop - features an intertwined oak and pōhutukawa tree, with a stained glass canopy.
Mr Johnson told reporters it was a symbol of the two countries' enduring friendship - as important today as ever.
"The world is still full of threats and I'm afraid that New Zealand and Britain are going to have to continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder, and we will."
Mr Johnson also paid tribute to the New Zealanders who died in World War I.
He will meet Prime Minister Bill English, Foreign Minister Gerry Brownlee and Labour Party leader Andrew Little during his two-day visit to New Zealand. The main topic is likely to be Britain's exit from the European Union and a possible trade deal between the two countries.
This morning, Mr Johnson was officially welcomed in Kaikōura, where he thanked the community for helping about 200 British tourists caught up in last November's earthquake.
Boris Johnson, centre, in Kaikōura with Civil Defence Minister Nathan Guy, left, and Kaikōura MP Stuart Smith. Photo: Pool / Corin Dann / TVNZ
Mr Johnson began this morning's visit to Kaikōura with a speech on Takahanga Marae.
He thanked the community for providing food and shelter to Britons after last year's earthquake.
"Thank you again from the bottom of my heart for your kindness and the way you reached out to them and the way you looked after them," he told the gathered crowd.
"And they slightly overstayed their welcome as far as I've heard. You obviously know how to lay on a good meal."
Boris Johnson, left, and Kaikōura MP Stuart Smith after being welcomed to Takahanga Marae in Kaikōura. Photo: Pool / Corin Dann / TVNZ
New Zealand was the most "mind-numbingly beautiful country", he said.
"I'm discovering that there are some things that we have in common with this wonderful place, with the marae of course, the tradition of strong female leadership - which we have in the United Kingdom.
"Thank you for teaching me the hongi. I think it's a beautiful form of introduction, though it might be misinterpreted in a pub in Glasgow."
Mr Johnson also met business and tourism operators in the town.
British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson meets Kaikōura tourist operators. Photo: Pool / Corin Dann / TVNZ
"I've no doubt at all that because of the kindness and the generosity that was shown by the people of this community, that word is going to spread across the planet and you are going to find more and more people who will want to visit this beautiful country.
"I wish you every prosperity and every success in developing that tourist industry."
