SPANISH TOUR: Whitireia performing artists in Spain earlier this year.

THE EARL of Wessex made a special request for the group to perform for him during his Wellington visit early next month.

The Prince saw Whitireia performing at Pataka Museum in Porirua in 2006 and loved them, says performing arts programme leader Pip Byrne.

The group – whose performances combine contemporary, Maori, Samoan and Cook Islands song and dance – is working on a smaller version of its end-of-year graduation show and the Prince will be one of the first to see it.

He will go up on stage after the show and meet the students.

Well known producer, director and choreographer Tanemahuta Gray is a tutor for the programme.

“He’s working on some very dynamic contemporary bi-cultural work,” says Ms Byrne.

Prime Minister John Key announced earlier this week that Prince Edward will also attend Christchurch and Auckland during his four-day visit.

He will attend Duke of Edinburgh-Hillary Award ceremonies, the International Antarctic Centre, the Windsor House Retirement Community, a British-New Zealand Business Association lunch and sail on the Spirit of New Zealand.

In his brief stay in Wellington, the Prince will attend a dinner hosted by the Prime Minister, see Whitireia perform and visit Weta Workshop.