Richie McCaw to fly Queen's Baton into Kaikōura

Former All Black Richie McCaw will take the Queen's Baton from Queenstown to Kaikōura. Photo / Getty

Former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw will fly the Queen's Baton into Kaikōura today as part of its nationwide tour ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

McCaw will be accompanied by his wife and former Black Stick, Gemma McCaw, in taking the baton from Queenstown.

The helicopter, flown by McCaw, will carry the baton up the country and is expected to arrive at 2.15pm.

After leaving Auckland on Monday morning, the baton arrived in Queenstown and was met by Govenor General Dame Patsy Reddy.

Richie and Gemma McCaw will fly the baton by helicopter. Photo / Getty

"I'm very pleased to be a baton bearer and I wish it well on the rest of its journey around New Zealand ahead of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games," said Reddy.

"It's great to celebrate the Queen's Baton and I can't imagine a more beautiful setting to welcome it to New Zealand."

On Monday the baton was taken on the Nevis Swing by Commonwealth Games bronze medallist and Olympic track cyclist Matt Randall.

The Queen’s Baton arrives in Queenstown and is met by the Governor General, Her Excellency The Rt Hon Dame Patsy Reddy #EarnThe Fern 🌿@GC2018 @PureQueenstown pic.twitter.com/rXmgiIhxz4

— The New Zealand Team (@TheNZTeam) December 18, 2017

The Queen's Baton will connect athletes including Sophie Pascoe, Dame Valerie Adams and Richie Patterson with Commonwealth greats such as Sir John Walker, Dick Taylor, Valerie Young and Precious McKenzie.

The baton is now on its final leg of a 230,000-kilometre voyage around the Commonwealth.

New Zealand hope to send about 250 athletes to the Gold Coast in 2018, which would make it the countries largest Commonwealth Games team.

The Games will be contested from April 4 to 15.