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A record of the four week, 7,500 mile, Viceregal tour of New Zealand Dependencies and British Protectorates in the Pacific undertaken by the Governor-General of New Zealand, Brigadier Sir Bernard Fergusson, aboard the HMNZS Royalist.
Lady Fergusson walks aboard the ‘Royalist’ at the Devonport naval base and is greeted by Captain H.E. Turner. The Governor-General arrives by smaller boat “from Auckland city and,” says the narrator, “is welcomed aboard with all the trimmings ... The band plays as the Royalist starts to leave the dockside.” Map sand narration detail “the first part of their trip” which includes Raoul Island, Tonga, Niue, three northern Cook Islands, then on to the French Dependency of Tahiti and the southern Cook group.
Sign: “Welcome to Raoul Is. The Village of ‘SNAFU’. Go slow. This is a one hearse town.” Narration: “The only inhabitants are the 9 members of the weather station.” A small boat (”a whaler”) brings the Fergusson couple and their son “Geordie” and they hoisted up to the shore in a large basket. Fergusson and party walk on the foreshore.
The Royalist off Tonga. Welcoming dancers at Nuku’alofa. A “traditional feast” at a banquet table at the Royal Palace with Queen Sālote. A Tonga brass band plays. Narration: “And there’s also native music to entertain the guests”: Three seated men beat hanging drum. Dancers sing. The Governor-General walking from boat to Nuie shore. The welcome of “traditional warrior challenge” takes place. Dance performance. Woman drinks from coconut. Royalist viewed from Pukapuka (Cook Islands) shore with palm tree in foreground. Welcoming committee onshore and Governor-General standing in smaller boat. “The band of the Royalist performs on the beach.” Governor-General goes ashore (for last time) at Rarotonga (Cook Islands) to fly between islands (Not shown.) [Cannon’ fire salute from Royalist. Governor-General and Lady Fergusson watch from smaller vessel. Rarotongans on shore.