Prince Charles and his wife Camilla have touched down in New Zealand.

The royal couple landed at Wellington Airport on Wednesday afternoon, kicking off a week-long visit that will take them from one end of the country to the other.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are usually greeted on the tarmac, but wet and windy conditions caused a change of plans and they were welcomed inside the terminal by Prime Minister John Key and his wife Bronagh, and Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown.

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The royal couple will travel first to Government House for the official welcome ceremony with Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae and his wife Lady Janine.

“It will be a great pleasure to welcome The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall on behalf of all New Zealanders,” Sir Jerry said ahead of their arrival.

“This visit is a great opportunity to strengthen the relationship this country has with the heir to the throne,” he said.

“I know people will be very keen to show Their Royal Highnesses the warm hospitality Kiwis are famous for.”

Later on Wednesday afternoon, Wellingtonians will get a chance to catch a glimpse of Prince Charles and Camilla when they lay a wreath at the National War Memorial and place a fern on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.

There will then be a state reception for the royal couple back at Government House.

The rest of their New Zealand visit will take the royal couple as far south as Dunedin and as far north as Auckland.

Highlights include a trip on the Taieri Gorge Railway, a visit to the Orokonui Ecosanctuary near Dunedin and a day taking in the sights of New Plymouth.

They will also be welcomed by Kingi Tuheitia on to Turangawaewae Marae, where there will be a salute by a waka armada.

Prince Charles and Camilla were last in New Zealand in 2012 as part of the Queen’s diamond jubilee celebrations.

Prince Harry visited New Zealand for the first time in May, while Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge visited with then-eight-month-old Prince George in 2014.

– AAP