First images of Duke and Duchess of Sussex as they arrive in Wellington, met by Jacinda Ardern

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have received a warm welcome to New Zealand after touching down in Wellington this afternoon.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern helped welcome the royals after they stepped off their plane onto the tarmac at Wellington Airport shortly after 3pm.

Kiwi fans have also gathered to catch a glimpse of the pair.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrived on the same flight as a number of the New Zealand Invictus Games competitors.

Next, the royals will be officially welcomed at Government House by the prime minister, before laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.

The pair will then visit the newly-unveiled UK War Memorial at the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park for a public appearance.

Tomorrow, Prince Harry and Meghan will visit a Wellington café where they will meet young people from a number of mental health projects operating in New Zealand offering support to other young people through helplines, social media, websites and school-based programmes.

They will then travel to Abel Tasman National Park where they will learn about the history of the forest and the environmental challenges of protecting the park's habitat as well as take part in a tree planting.

The couple will travel to Auckland on October 30 where they will take a walk around the viaduct and meet the public, before being treated to cultural performances and entertainment by members of the Pasifika community living in Auckland at a reception at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

On their last full day in New Zealand, October 31, their royal highnesses will name two young kiwi chicks at the Rainbow Springs and visit the Redwoods Treewalk in Rotorua before leaving the country on November 1.