Secretary-General visits
New Zealand

A traditional Powhirl-Maori welcoming ceremony at Waiwhetu Marae, Puketapu Grove, Lower Hutt in Wellington, on February 24. A warrior (Taua), right, armed with a traditional Maori fighting weapon, called the Taiaha, challenges Secretary-General Kofi Annan (second from right) to test his friendliness in a show of aggressiveness. Finally, the warrior places a sacred stick, called rakau tapu, on the ground in front of the Secretary-General. As shown here, Secretary-General Annan must pick up the rakau tapu without taking his eyes off the warrior. (UN Photo# EDD215)

Secretary-General Kofi Annan (centre) and Mrs. Nane Annan (right) among Maori children at the ceremony, where they were given a gift by the children. (UN Photo# EDD216 )

Pressing of noses (Hongi) signifies the sharing of the life force and the breath of life, which is a form of greeting in Maori culture. Shown here, Secretary-General Kofi Annan (centre) greets a warrior, while Mrs. Nane Annan (left) looks on. (UN Photo# EDD217)

Secretary-General Kofi Annan (seated second from left) and the Hon. Phil Goff (opposite the Secretary-General), Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand, at a working luncheon hosted by the Foreign Minister at Parliament House in Wellington on February 24. (UN Photo# EDD218 )

Secretary-General Kofi Annan (left) meeting with the Hon. Mark Burton, Minister of Defence of New Zealand, at the Parliament House in Wellington on February 24. (UN Photo# EDD219)

Secretary-General Kofi Annan (right) meeting with the Rt. Hon. Jenny Shipley MP, leader of the Opposition, at the Parliament House in Wellington on February 24. (UN Photo# EDD220)

Secretary-General Kofi Annan (left) meeting with Carol Mosely-Braun, Ambassador of the United States to New Zealand, and Ralph L. Boyce, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, United States Department of State, at his suite in Wellington on February 24. (UN Photo# EDD221)

Secretary-General Kofi Annan (right) meeting with the Rt. Hon. Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand, at Parliament House in Wellington on February 23. (UN Photo# EDD207 )

Secretary-General Kofi Annan (left) and Prime Minister Helen Clark giving a joint press conference at Parliament House in Wellington. (UN Photo# EDD208)

Secretary-General Kofi Annan (right) meeting with the Hon. Phil Goff, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand. (UN Photo# EDD209)

Secretary-General Kofi Annan (right) and Mrs. Nane Annan (second from left) with the Rt. Hon. Helen Clark (second from right), Prime Minister of New Zealand, and Dr. Peter Davis, meeting prior to a luncheon hosted by the Prime Minister in honour of the Secretary-General. (UN Photo# EDD210)

Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Mrs. Nane Annan (both on left) meeting with His Excellency Sir Michael Hardie Boys GNZM, GCMG, Governor-General of New Zealand, and Lady Hardie Boys, at Government House in Wellington. (UN Photo# EDD211)

Secretary-General Kofi Annan (right, at podium) addressing the Civic Society at an event organized by United Nations Association (UNA) New Zealand at Victoria University Law Faculty Lecture Hall in Wellington. Seated, left to right, is Sir Frank Holmes, National President of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs and Lady Rhyl Jansen, National President of the UNA of New Zealand. (UN Photo# EDD212)

Secretary-General Kofi Annan (seated second from right) meeting with the Hon. Jim Anderton (seated across from the Secretary-General), Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand, at Parliament House. (UN Photo# EDD213)

On February 23, Secretary-General Kofi Annan (right) meeting with the Hon. Don McKinnon, Commonwealth Secretary-General-designate, in Wellington. (UN Photo# EDD214)