default-output-block.skip-main
National | Prince Harry

Ohinemataroa 'buzzing' over hongi photo with Prince Harry

It's currently the most talked about photo going viral on the internet, Prince Harry receiving a hongi from Ruatoki's Ohinemataroa Iti-Kereopa during a ceremony at Government House last week.

The photo has received so much attention, she is now being referred to as Harry's new 'girlfriend'.

"I think that's so buzzy for anyone to even come up with that rumour, but I like it, it has given me a lot of attention on social media and at mahi which I like. I don't mind the attention to be honest, but i'm keeping humble about it all" Ohinemataroa says.

She was given the opportunity to greet Prince Harry with a hongi on behalf of her Māori Culture group. Although It was an honour for her, she says that it was even more exciting knowing how much publicity the the photo would get.

The 24-year-old says "I felt so proud to be representing my Iwi first and foremost but I was also thinking about how jealous people were going to going to get seeing me hongi the prince."

It's not the first time Ohinemataroa has met the young bachelor, she had met him twice before while over in Italy for the 75th WW11 Commemorations in Cassino.

Besides the hongi, a few words were also exchanged between the pair.

"After the hongi, he had a few questions like how long have I been in the military and I replied with six and a half years. He also said to myself and the kaiwero that we were lucky we didn't have to do the haka in our military uniform. I also said that it was a pleasure to meet him, in which he replied you're welcome."

The photo, along with articles written by various newspapers about the famous hongi are still circulating online and in particular, Facebook. It's something Ohinemataroa is still "buzzing" about and will for many years to come.

"Just seeing all the positive comments from a lot of people about the photo has made me feel so humbled. Its so crack up as well."

Prince Harry is in Whanganui today and will carry on up to Auckland tomorrow.