Wellington's notorious southerlies deferred to a stiff breeze as President Mary McAleese received an emotional Maori welcome in the grounds of Government House at the start of a week-long State visit to New Zealand.
Through inter-marriage, Maori are among the 18 per cent of New Zealand's 4 million population to have Irish blood.
On her way to be greeted by governor general Anand Satyanand, a Fijian-Indian, and his wife Susan, the President experienced a hongi the pressing of noses with Maori elders in traditional kiwi-feather cloaks. For Maori, to hongi signifies the acceptance of strangers through "a sharing of air".
Seasoned Maori "warriors" were hand-picked to perform a menacing haka, wind gusts rattling their pui-puis [flax skirts].
Later, New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark and Minister for Education Mary Hanafin signed a film co-production agreement which will afford financial, production and technical benefits to the respective film industries.
Ms Hanafin said New Zealanders and the Irish were among the top cinema-goers in the world "and the world has been moved by our films of recent years". The first day concluded with a State dinner at Government House hosted by Mr Satyanand.
As President McAleese inspected a guard of honour of army, navy and air force personnel, cannon booms resonated around the capital's bush-clad suburban hills.
She paid her respects at the tomb of the unknown soldier in Wellington's carillion and laid a wreath en route to a state lunch hosted by the prime minister.
Ms Clark's grandfather emigrated from Armagh in 1910. She said it was rare to find two small, widely separated countries with so much in common, the strength of connection between them continuing to grow, such as their defence forces in peace-keeping roles in trouble spots such as East Timor, Kosovo and Lebanon.
"Two thousand young Irish people choose to come here each year and take aspects of our culture home with them," Ms Clarke said.
The President thanked New Zealand for being one of the first countries to support the International Fund for Ireland whose work has been pivotal in changing hearts and minds.
"We may be small but our values and voices are not. As members of the New Agenda Coalition we have a similar outlook on disarmament, share a strong commitment to the United Nations and, not least, to the global fight against poverty and disease,".
Today Mrs McAleese meets the capital's Irish community at two of the country's biggest Irish clubs.