British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has been welcomed on a Kaikoura marae - joking that the "beautiful" hongi he received "might be misinterpreted in a pub in Glasgow".
Johnson also thanked representatives of Takahanga Marae for the hospitality they gave British tourists who were stranded in the area after the earthquakes in November last year.
"I can see why it attracted those tourists who came here and were here last November when the Kaikoura earthquake struck. And all I want to say is, 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.
"I know they slightly overstayed their welcome. You obviously know how to lay on a good meal. I'm told they ate you out of house and home, they ate heaps of crayfish and really didn't want to go.
"Because of the kindness and generosity that was shown by the people of this community, the word is going to spread across the planet and you will find more and more people who will want to come in this beautiful country."
