President visits New Zealand
President Mary McAleese leaves today for a six-day state visit to New Zealand.
Included in the trip are ceremonies marking the contribution of Irish immigrants to the country and the heroism of Ernest Shackleton and Tom Crean.
Along with New Zealander Frank Worsley they helped saved the lives of 22 men stranded in the freezing Antarctic during an expedition in 1914.
The trip includes visits to Wellington, Dunedin, Queenstown and Auckland and is the second visit by the President to the country.
President McAleese will also be conferred with an Honorary Doctorate in Laws at the University of Otago in Dunedin on Wednesday, the first Irish person to receive such an honour.
The President will be welcomed to Wellington on Monday with a Maori ceremony before meeting with the Governor General, The Honourable Anand Satyanand and Prime Minister Helen Clark.
There will also be a wreath-laying ceremony in the Hall of Memories and at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.
The President will also have the opportunity to meet the Irish community in Wellington and will address a business lunch hosted by Enterprise Ireland and will unveil a plaque in honour of Irish immigrants.
President McAleese will be accompanied by her husband Dr Martin McAleese and Minister for Education Mary Hanafin.
