People cheered and children sat on shoulders in an effort to get a glimpse of royalty as Prince Harry and Meghan engaged with the public during their Rotorua visit.
The royal couple's visit on Wednesday was the last stop on their four-day New Zealand tour.
A small crowd gathered tosee the Duke and Duchess of Sussex when they arrived at Rotorua Airport in the morning.
The couple were then taken to their first engagement, an intimate visit to the historic St Faith's Church.
They were met by local leaders, who gifted them each a korowai cloak, and prepared them for the traditional pōhiri to come.
More than 1000 people gathered at Te Papaiouru Marae in Ohinemutu to watch the welcome by Te Arawa.
After lunch, the couple headed to Rainbow Springs where they went behind the scenes of the kiwi hatchery.
The couple named two three-day old chicks, from Coromandel and Taranaki, Koha (meaning gift) and Tihei, from the Maori saying 'Tihei Mauriora' meaning 'the sneeze of life'.
A crowd of thousands then cheered and got snap happy as Harry and Meghan greeted and talked to people in their public walkabout at the Government Gardens.
The final stop for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex was the Redwoods and the Treewalk, where they were greeted by a crowd of mountain bikers, dog walkers and Halloween-costumed children.
Laura Adams (left) and Sarah Pearson are in the royal spirit. Photo / Shauni James
Rotorua hairdresser Sarah Pearson was sporting the British flag all over for the royal couple's public walkabout in the Government Gardens, including painted on her face.
She says it is great the couple visited Rotorua because everything in the city depicts New Zealand and Māori culture.
Sarah says she is a big fan of Prince Harry and Prince William.
"I was born in St Mary's Hospital, where they were born in London."
She says if she had the chance to talk with Prince Harry, she would say that he needs to come to her salon and have a haircut, and tell him she was born in the same hospital as him.
"It's cool, I've watched him grow up while I was living in England and now he's in my hometown."
The Government Gardens was the best place for them to do the public walk because it was beautiful, she says.
Rotorua's Victoria Cooper says she has always wanted to see the royal couple ever since she saw them on television.
"I'm so ecstatic and excited. I just can't wait to get my camera clicking."
She says it was neat that the couple had been giving speeches and she was very happy for them after hearing the news about their little bump.
(From left) Anna Solich, Maggie Roden, 6, Archie Roden, 8 and Marilyn Roden wait at the Government Gardens for the royal couple, having traveled from Tauranga. Photo / Shauni James
Anna Solich travelled over from Tauranga with family for the royal couple's public walk, with her and her children donning hand-made clothes for the occasion.
She says she went to see Prince William and Kate in Cambridge with her children, Maggie, 6, and Archie, 8, a few years ago, and it was something the children still talk about.
"It had such a big impact on them, and being British I thought it was great for these two to be part of this."
