Harry: Plenty to be wild about

UNLESS you have been hiding under a rock in the desert, then you will be aware that royalty came to visit us last week. And what royalty it was - Prince Harry received a rock star welcome from Wanganui and it was exciting to watch.

He deserved that welcome, in my opinion. What a top bloke. He delivered a speech in Maori, where his pronunciation was far better than many Pakeha living in New Zealand.

He participated beautifully in a haka, paddled a waka and attended to each and every powhiri around New Zealand with equal interest and enthusiasm.

In Wanganui on Thursday, at the War Memorial Centre, the heavens opened up and poured down rain at the exact moment that Prince Harry was due to mingle with the crowd. He refused to huddle under an umbrella and got out there among everyone and they all got wet together.

Despite all of the cool things Prince Harry got up to, for me it was the collective excitement that his visit generated that made me happiest of all.

My friends went to stalk (er, visit) Prince Harry at the Memorial Centre, arriving at 10am to get front-row positions.

I went down to visit my friends for a wee while and noticed something really nice - people were talking to each other. This event gave people permission to talk openly with each other, share intimate stories about their lives and most definitely share in each other's excitement about the chance of meeting the prince.

Friendships were being formed and people who wouldn't ordinarily get to meet were able to enjoy each other's company. The event drew people together in a way that doesn't often happen.

The sheer level of schoolgirl excitement that was felt by young and old was infectious. My friend, Rachel, was giddy with it. She told me that she was almost embarrassed about how excited she was, and I was quick to tell her that any powerful positive emotion generated by such a wonderful event should not make anyone feel embarrassed. In fact, it should be shared with everyone around her.

What a wonderful visit from a wonderful young man. The response from New Zealand was completely appropriate.

People getting excited about such a person as Prince Harry is exactly what is needed nowadays.

To young people, he is a celebrity - but this celebrity has dignity, humility, intelligence, a sense of duty and a great sense of humour.

That is better than many of the idiots out there who reach celebrity status.

Prince Harry is certainly someone I would want young people to look up to and admire.

Thanks for coming to visit, Prince Harry.

It was definitely worthwhile having you here.