Elders keep Meghan’s ‘pepi’ out of the war zone

The Duchess of Sussex broke into a grin as a Maori elder wished her strength with her soon-to-be ‘pepi’.

Harry and Meghan at Courtenay Creative in Wellington yesterday. Picture: AP

A translator at her side, the Duchess of Sussex broke into a grin as a Maori elder wished her strength with her soon-to-be “pepi” during the royal couple’s welcome to New Zealand’s South Island.

It was with the blowing of a conch shell that Prince Harry and Meghan were greeted yesterday to a beachside camp at Totaranui in the Abel Tasman National Park, rain falling around them.

Under a marquee, a kaumatua (elder) from the local iwi (tribe), Barney Thomas, spoke in Te Reo Maori, wishing them well with their pepi (baby). Meghan smiled as the words were translated.

He also explained why the duchess was seated a few inches behind the duke in the front row.

“The middle represents the god of war and we don’t want to put our women into that space. We want to be inclusive, but especially Meg­han, because she’s expecting, we don’t want to put her at any risk.”

It was not the duchess’ first encounter with the Maori language. She won praise after opening a speech on Sunday with the phrase “tena koutou katoa” (greetings to all).

Harry shrugged off yesterday’s rain as he spoke to the crowd. “The weather forecast was a lot worse than this and we are really fortunate to be here. The rain is a blessing and a reminder of our connection to the land,” he said.

“From my wife, myself and our little bump, it’s a blessing to be here.”

Harry and Meghan at Abel Tasman National Park yesterday. Picture: AP

Then the couple set out for a walk in the rain along one of the area’s golden beaches, talking conservation with a ranger.

Andrew Lamason pointed out a weka — a flightless woodhen that lives only in New Zealand — saying the animals were the country’s equivalent of monkeys because of their cheekiness.

The couple also visited Courtenay Creative, which runs programs for young people looking to get into film, where they were greeted by two Lord of the Rings Urak-hai orc soldiers.

The weather saw a tree planting called off; instead, the couple joined local schoolchildren for brownies and tea under a tent.

Earlier, keen locals — and their dogs — were lining the street to catch a glimpse of Harry and Meg­han arriving at Wellington’s seaside Maranui Cafe.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she gave Meg­han a pair of Boh Runga feather-shaped earrings and Harry an album of Kiwi drum-and-bass music. In return she was gifted a copy of the duchess’s recently released cookbook.

The royal couple end their 16-day tour tomorrow.

AAP, PA