Prince Harry arrived at Invercargill Airport with crowds waiting to catch a glimpse of the flame-haired royal.
Prince Harry charmed his way into the hearts of many southerners on the second leg of his royal tour.
After spending his first day in the capital, Prince Harry ventured south, first visiting Invercargill before heading to Stewart Island today.
Prince Harry visits the Stewart Island Community Centre. Photo / Pool
He stopped in at the museum in Invercargill where he met his namesake Henry, a more than 110-year-old tuatara. He was then welcomed by a crowd at Invercargill Airport just before 11am.
From there, it was on to Stewart Island and after landing at midday, he went straight to a community event at the island's Community Centre.
About 80 people from 10 community groups were gathered inside to meet the prince, and outside, about 100 people gathered to catch a glimpse of the flame-haired royal.
With a population of 378 the island had almost a quarter of its residents inside the centre.
The prince wore a navy blue jumper and matching dress pants while he spoke to the island residents, and chatted to those from various community groups.
— Governor-General NZ (@GovGeneralNZ) May 10, 2015
One of the youngest members in the crowd was 12-year-old Angus Kenny who is a member of the Stewart Island Bowls Club.
Meeting the prince was "pretty cool", he said.
"He's more down-to-earth than I thought he would be."
While there, the prince also had the opportunity to try his hand at oyster shucking, and once opened, he handed the oyster off to a member of the crowd to have a taste.
From there, the prince was whisked off to one of the country's most spectacular remote islands -- the pest-free Ulva Island.
The island sanctuary is home to native plants and wildlife, and the prince did not have to wait for long before he was greeted by a weka.
"There are birds here that are unique to this island?" he asked Department of Conservation rangers. "Wow, that's something."
Prince Harry visits the Stewart Island Community Centre. Photo / Pool
Prince Harry visits the Stewart Island Community Centre. Photo / Pool
The prince was given a guided tour of part of the island, stopping along the way to learn how to set a rat trap and to meet with members of the Ulva Island Charitable Trust.
"Stewart Island had attracted a lot of important people, but having Prince Harry here is just really special," senior ranger Dale Chittenden said.
"It's not often people get the opportunity to get out into an environment like this, so we're very fortunate that someone of his profile has come here to help showcase what's here."
Image 1 of 36: Prince Harry disembarks the front stairs and is welcomed to Wellington. Photo / @GovGeneralNZ
The charismatic prince also met members of a family which has owned a portion of the island for almost a century, joking that the two sisters at the end of the family line would have to "fight it out" to claim ownership.
He described them as being "very lucky" to lay claim to a part of the world as picturesque as Ulva Island.
Prince Harry visits the Stewart Island Community Centre. Photo / Pool
Prince Harry asks questions during his trip to Stewart Island. Photo / Twitter.com/GovGeneralNZ
This evening, the prince attended a private service at St Andrews Anglican Church, and tomorrow he will spend the morning with the students and staff of Halfmoon Bay School.
This weekend, students got ready for the royal visit of a lifetime by preparing some songs, making crowns and cleaning the school grounds.
Year 7 students Winiata Edwards and George Oner, both 11, said they couldn't wait for tomorrow's visit from the prince.
"[I'm most excited] because Harry is coming to the school and he is a royal, so I'm pretty stoked about that. I don't think we have had a royal at our school before," Winiata said.
"We saw him today, and he was down at the wharf he was going to Ulva," said George. "It was pretty awesome."
The boys said some of the younger students had made crowns in preparation for the prince's arrival, and they even had a throne prepared.
