Prince Harry and Victoria Cross recipient Willie Apiata exchanged a hongi at the weekend when the pair met at the Invictus Games in Canada.
Prince Harry awards the silver medal to Walter Groen of the Netherlands on the podium at the medal ceremony for the Wheelchair Basketball final gold match. Photo: AFP / CLAUS ANDERSEN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA
The Invictus Games were held in Toronto last week and the New Zealand Defence Force team won a haul, including a gold medal in women's midweight powerlifting and a double gold in indoor rowing.
HRH Prince Harry and Willie Apiata VC Hongi, a traditional Māori greeting in New Zealand #IAMKiwi #IG2017 pic.twitter.com/fLBcZX6q47
— NZ Defence Force (@NZDefenceForce) September 29, 2017
Prince Harry also met the Invictus team coach for New Zealand, Patrick Pradel and members of the archery squad.
A special congrats from HRH Prince Harry after archeryPO Ihaka Matairangi, Nicki Fairbairn, WO2 Koro Hati & coach Matt Vangioni #IAMKiwi pic.twitter.com/BbkDH6ZQDl
— NZ Defence Force (@NZDefenceForce) September 29, 2017
The prince, who served in Afghanistan, is one of the founders of the international Paralympic-style multi sport contest in which wounded, injured or struggling armed service personnel and veterans compete.
The 2017 games were the largest so far, with 550 participants from 17 nations, including 24 from the New Zealand Defence Force competing in 12 adaptive sporting events.
