Services › Other Services › Visits and Ceremonial Events
Overview
Operational Policy Guidelines (updated October 2024)
Cost of Events
The Visits and Ceremonial Office (VCO) is responsible for the planning, administration and coordination of arrangements for visitors to New Zealand who have been accorded Guest of Government status by the Prime Minister. The overriding objective is to help to promote New Zealand’s international interests through the efficient and effective delivery of visits. VCO works closely with other government agencies – particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) – on these visits.
With the Parliamentary Relations team (PR), VCO is also responsible for organising Guest of Parliament visits. The main aim of these visits is to foster strong, positive relationships between the New Zealand and other parliaments.
VCO has primary responsibility for organising national ceremonial and commemorative events. Examples include ceremonial welcomes at Parliament and Government House, state funerals and the Anzac Day commemoration at the National War Memorial.
VCO also provides international airport arrival and departure facilitation for Guest of Government visitors, and New Zealand dignitaries such as the Governor-General and Prime Minister.
VCO forms part of the Ministerial Services and Secretariat Support (MaSS) branch of the Department of Internal Affairs. For further information, contact: vco.info@dia.govt.nz
Read the Visits and Ceremonial Office - Operational Policy Guidelines (updated October 2024):
- PDF version (PDF, 1MB)*
- Word document version (DOCX, 788KB)
- Use of Royal Arms, Names, and Images (September 2024)
- Costs associated with the death of the Queen (November 2022)
Cost of Royal Visits
- Cost of the Royal Visit of Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall to New Zealand in 2019 (July 2020)
- Cost of the visit of His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge to New Zealand in April 2019 (February 2020)
- Cost of the Royal Visit of Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and The Duchess of Sussex to New Zealand in 2018 (March 2019)
- Cost of the Royal Visit of Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall to New Zealand in 2015 (November 2015)
- Cost of the Royal Visit of His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales to New Zealand in 2015 (May 2015)
- Cost of the Royal Visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince George (July 2014)
- Cost of the Royal Visit of the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall in 2012 (November 2012)
