Big day out for baby Prince George

Ten Plunket babies will visit with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George at Government House in Wellington on Wednesday.

The Royal play group will be eight-month-old Prince George's first official public engagement and, in a way, a case of history repeating itself in a way.

Prince William was just nine months old when he visited New Zealand with his parents, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, in 1983.

Fast forward three decades, and two royal parents and their baby boy are back in the country.

On Wednesday afternoon, a group of first-time parents and their babies, who are about the same age as Prince George, will visit them at Government House.

Plunket Wellington area manager Tina Syme, who helped organise the hour-long afternoon tea, said it was a typical Plunket parents' group - as well as being Prince George's first official public engagement.

"What a honour for Plunket to actually be part of that, and yet so appropriate too in New Zealand, because we are a Well Child service that works with and supports families in partnership, and Prince George is exactly that; they are a young family with their first baby," she said.

Ingrid and David Alve, along with baby Eden, would be attending today.

"It was quite a nice surprise, quite unexpected, but quite lovely," Mr Alve said.

The couple expected it to be like their usual parents' group but in a slightly different setting.

Plunket will give the baby prince a blue teddy bear, as well as a Plunket book.

Ms Syme said she was looking forward to meeting the young prince and his parents.

"He (Prince George) looks like a healthy, well covered, gorgeous infant, and children don't grow without love, support and parents," she said.

On Thursday, the Duke and Duchess travel to Blenheim to lay a wreath at the War Memorial in Seymour Square, as well as going for a walk.

They then fly back to Wellington for a reception at Government House in the evening.