And the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were given the warmest of welcomes as they headed straight to Government House in Wellington, New Zealand on Monday after landing in the country that morning. The couple were met by traditional Maori warriors as well as a local dignitary, who rubbed noses with William and Kate as they stood on the soggy lawn outside the stately home.The traditional Māori greeting is called a Hongi, and it is done by pressing one's nose and forehead to another person in an encounter.Meanwhile. the giggling Duchess didn't know where to look as she chatted to one heavily tattooed Maori warrior, who was bare-bottomed in his traditional clothing.During the greetings, Kate, who wore a chic red ensemble, including a pillar-box red coat by Catherine Walker, was kept dry from the teeming rain by a woman holding an umbrella.As the rain subsided, Kate and William were then treated to a Haka, a traditional ancestral war cry dance that was performed on the lawn.Earlier in the morning, the couple's young son Prince George made an assured appearance for his debut royal tour.Arriving in New Zealand on the first day of a three-week trip Down Under, the third in line to the throne took the windswept welcome in his stride, although he looked a little chilly in a cream jumper and shorts.With a lifetime of royal engagements ahead of him, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are understandably protective of their young son.Indeed, his appearance today was only the second time he has been seen in public, the first being when he left hospital at just one day old. But there was nothing to worry about - not even the ravages of 30 hours on a plane – as the little prince behaved himself beautifully. He wore a cream cardigan over a white shirt, matching shorts and soft leather shoes and socks - ideal for a baby who has just started crawling. The outfit was a modern version of the smocked top and peach bloomer style shorts that William wore when he visited the country at the same age.His mother looked equally refreshed and particularly elegant in a pillar-box red coat by Catherine Walker, a British designer favoured by William’s late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, and a pillbox hat by Gina Foster.She was also wearing a diamond and platinum silver fern brooch, on loan from the Queen.The monarch was given the bejewelled version of New Zealand’s recognised national symbol on Christmas Day 1953 during her landmark six month world tour.A committee of women's organisations in Auckland raised money in order to gift the Queen with the standout jewel and it has been worn by the monarch for New Zealand-related functions ever since.Earlier on Monday, there had been some uncertainty as to whether the flight would even be able to land after dozens of planes were diverted from Wellington due to low cloud and heavy rain.But concern eventually evaporated after the couple were seen happily boarding their jet for the final stage of their journey around the world in Sydney.The family and their 11-strong entourage had left London on Saturday night, taking up the First Class section of a scheduled Qantas flight via Dubai.Earlier on Monday, there had been some uncertainty as to whether the flight would even be able to land after dozens of planes were diverted from Wellington due to low cloud and heavy rain.But concern eventually evaporated after the couple were seen happily boarding their jet for the final stage of their journey around the world in Sydney.The family and their 11-strong entourage had left London on Saturday night, taking up the First Class section of a scheduled Qantas flight via Dubai.Disembarking 27 hours later in Australia, the Duchess looked elegant in a £310 (USD$514/ AUD$555) MaxMara wrap dress previously worn during a visit to Hope House in London in February last year. She teamed the designer ensemble with beige suede £400 (USD$663/ AUD$714) Manolo Blahnik heels, and smiled as she walked across the tarmac with her waving son in her arms.Smartly dressed in a freshly pressed blue suit, William walked next to her carrying a battered brown holdall and a plush kangaroo backpack, a gift to George from the Australian Koala Foundation which has already sold out.A Royal New Zealand Air Force jet carried them on the last three hours of their marathon journey and will also ferry them around the country for the next ten days.Kate and her son had taken the opportunity to change during the flight, which arrived 20 minutes late and was greeted by New Zealand Prime Minister John Key.Thanks to the services of her onboard hairdresser, Amanda Cook Tucker – who is being paid for by Prince Charles out of his private fortune – the Duchess’ famous flowing locks looked eminently salon-worthy.Among the entourage seen disembarking was George’s full-time nanny, Spanish born Maria Teresa Turrion Borallo, a quiet, studious figure, who has not been seen in public before.While the couple’s previous foreign tours have been dominated by chatter about Kate’s wardrobe, George will clearly be the centre of attention as his parents spend the next three weeks touring New Zealand and Australia.Eager members of the public are to be given no less than six glimpses of the tiny future king on his first royal tour, including a photo call at Government House in Wellington and a visit to the world famous Taronga Zoo in Sydney.Although the three week trip has been more than a year in the planning, it has very much been designed with baby George in mind, according to aides.And instead of hawking themselves from city to city, as is customary on overseas royal visits, William and Kate will base their young son in three different ‘hubs’: Wellington, Sydney and Canberra.The arrangement means his doting parents will be able to travel back to see George almost every night – bar a stop-over in Queenstown, New Zealand, and another at Ayers Rock in Australia.‘It’s a long way to go and [would mean] a long time away from their son,’ the couple’s private secretary, Miguel Head, said earlier this month.‘The tour has been designed with Prince George’s consideration and comfort in mind.‘Taking a nine month old on a Royal tour is not a first, but it has not happened in this Royal Family’s context for many, many years so there has been much to think about – as any new parent travelling long distance will recognise.’(dailymail.co.uk)ANN.Az