A Coronation-themed Union flag is pictured at a souvenir stall near Houses of Parliament in central London as preparations continue ahead of the 6 May Coronation of King Charles III. Photo: BEN STANSALL / AFP
As Britain prepares for the coronation of King Charles III, so are those here in one of the Commonwealth's most far-flung countries.
New Zealanders will mark the occasion with gun salutes, tree plantings, high teas and musical ensembles.
Shirley Faber from Whangārei will be watching the coronation with friends this Saturday.
The 87-year-old has lived through three coronations: King George VI in 1937, Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, and now King Charles. She is looking forward to seeing the new monarch on the throne.
"He's been our prince for so long that it seems funny - that is what us elderly people are feeling, how will he make out as a king, he's pretty regal and I am very pleased to say he has done so well, he will be ok."
Read more of RNZ's coverage of the coronation of King Charles III:
- King Charles' coronation: What you need to know
- King Charles III's coronation: A day of pomp and glory
- King Charles coronation: Who is going - and who isn't?
- Prime Minister Chris Hipkins meets King Charles
- Royalist Britons queue up to view Coronation spectacle
- 'Charles will do okay with Camilla at his side' - Taranaki royalist
- King Charles' coronation: Mosque attack hero surprised to be on invitation list
- Coronation day for King Charles revealed
- Queen Elizabeth II: A timeline of her life
In Wellington, St Paul's Cathedral is holding a three-day festival this weekend in celebration of the new king.
Organist and director of music Michael Stewart is calling it a "cornucopia of coronation events".
The festival includes a coronation-themed organ recital by American recitalist Colin Andrews on Friday followed by a cathedral choir and brass ensemble on Saturday, ahead of a live screening of the coronation itself.
"We'll be performing a lot of music performed at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II so that includes great favourites such as 'I Was Glad' which was sung as the Queen entered Westminster Abbey for the 53rd coronation, 'Zadok the Priest' and the 'Coronation Te Deum' by William Walton."
A coronation evensong will then be held on Sunday afternoon, followed by high tea in the cathedral.
"I think it's a great way for me and many others just to get in the spirit of what is going to be happening halfway across the world and particularly the sounds of the brass instruments in our cathedral, which is a wonderfully resonant building, is really quite spine tingling."
King Charles met with Prime Minister Chris Hipkins this week. Photo: PA Wire / Stefan Rousseau
Among the New Zealanders attending the coronation is Kīngi Tūheitia.
University of Waikato professor and historian Tom Roa said the relationship between the Māori monarchy and the British Crown is one of respect and cordiality.
"It was a promise when the first Māori king was consecrated as king, that he and Queen Victoria would be as one, that he was charged with having the best of relationships with the British monarchy in order for the aspirations for this country to be recognised and followed up."
He said some Māori will celebrate the occasion, while others would not.
"I personally will celebrate the coronation of King Charles III, I don't have any special plan in how to celebrate that but I know that there will be a number of functions around Tūrangawaewae Marae that will welcome the Māori King home when he comes back from the koroneihana just as there was a special prayer evening for him and his entourage when they left.
"The eyes will be glued to the television on Saturday and when the king returns, there'll be another kind of celebration and thanksgiving."
Victoria League president Reverend David Crooke said the coronation festivities in Dunedin will kick off with a High Tea at Larnach Castle on Saturday.
"Flags, bunting, a loyal toast and the chef and his staff are really doing the whole thing, including the coronation quiche, that the King and Queen have agreed will be the royal dish, so it is not just cucumber sandwiches."
The New Zealand Army will fire a 21-gun salute from Point Jerningham in Wellington at midday on Sunday, with a gun salute fired at the same time from Devonport Naval Base.
Buildings and landmarks across Aotearoa will also be lit in purple lights over the weekend to mark the coronation.
Meanwhile, all around the country, tree plantings will be taking place to honour the new King.
Trees That Count chief executive Robyn Haugh said the organisation is helping to administer the He Rā Rākau Tītapu - King Charles III Coronation Plantings across the country.
"Given his lifelong commitment and advocacy for nature and the environment, it was decided that one of the best gifts we could give - not just for the future King but for New Zealand as well - was the gift of planting native trees."
A kauri tree will be planted in Tauranga, kahikatea in Kāpiti and Marlborough and a tōtara in Nelson and Wellington with a national event held at the Auckland Domain on the lawn beneath Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum on Sunday afternoon.
Haugh said 100,000 native trees will be planted right across the motu over the next year - with at least 7000 trees in each region, in honour of King Charles III's coronation.