Prince Henry William Frederick Albert (1900–), Duke of Gloucester and third son of George V and Queen Mary, after a visit to Australia, arrived at Wellington on board HMAS Australia on 15 December 1934.

Amongst other engagements during his stay in Wellington, the Duke laid the foundation stone of the new railway station. His route was by rail to Hawke's Bay and thence by road through Gisborne and Rotorua to Auckland. It was the first time Royalty had visited Gisborne. The Duke returned via New Plymouth, Hunterville, Marton, Wanganui, Palmerston North, and the Wairarapa to rejoin his ship at Wellington on 4 January 1935. At Marton he attended the Marton Jockey Club's New Year meeting and rode T. A. Duncan's Black Man to come fourth in the Ladies Bracelet.

The South Island tour included visits to the West Coast, Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin, Invercargill, Queenstown, and Lake Tekapo where the foundation stone for the Church of the Good Shepherd was laid. Following a break at Longbeach, the Duke visited Christchurch and attended a reception for South Island Maoris. On the conclusion of the tour, at Lyttelton, HMAS Australia sailed for some fishing in the Bay of Islands before departing for Fiji on 29 January 1935.

In 1944 the Duke returned to Australia as Governor-General.

Like the Prince of Wales, the next Royal visitors, travelled on HMS Renown. This time it was the second son of King George V and Queen Mary, Prince Albert Frederick Arthur George (1895–1952), Duke of York.

The Duke and Duchess of York left England on 6 January 1927 and arrived at Auckland on 22 February. After two days of deep-sea fishing in the Bay of Islands, they returned to Auckland to go by rail and motorcar to Rotorua where the First World War memorial to the Arawas was unveiled. On the way south to Wellington they visited most of the larger North Island towns, with a second rest period when the Royal couple and only a minimum of staff spent two days in trout fishing from a camp at Kowhai Flat, Tokaanu.

At Wellington the Duchess opened the new Karitane Home, which she was to revisit 30 years later on her second tour. Meanwhile the Duke paid an unscheduled visit to workers' homes in the Hutt Valley and was shown over woollen mills. He showed great interest in factories, several of which he inspected in New Zealand. Following a four-day stay at Wellington, the Duke and Duchess boarded Renown for Picton whence they drove to Nelson. It was here that the Duchess was taken ill with tonsilitis and forced to abandon the remainder of her New Zealand itinerary.

The Duke went on alone, travelling by road and rail to the West Coast and Christchurch where he received the freedom of the city. He also had an excursion further afield and visited the southern lakes. The Dunedin programme included the unveiling of the war memorial and the opening of the Sargood now Dunedin, Art Gallery. The Duke then proceeded to Invercargill and Bluff where he joined the Duchess on Renown, departing for Australia on 22 March. Weather conditions were so bad that the transfer to the visiting battleship had to be made by tug and not through HMS Diomede as planned.

On the abdication of Edward VIII in 1936, the Duke and Duchess came to the throne as George VI and Queen Elizabeth.

When addressing the Imperial War Conference in 1917, and again at the conference of overseas Prime Ministers the following year, George V had foreshadowed the visit to the Dominions of his eldest son (Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David, Prince of Wales) “when peace comes”. The matter was discussed more than once in the ensuing months until finally, on 3 January 1920, the Secretary of State for the Colonies cabled the Governor-General confirming an early visit.

After a week's delay, because of an epidemic on the ship, the 25-year-old Prince left Portsmouth on 16 March 1920 on HMS Renown, Britain's newest and biggest battleship, and arrived at Auckland on 24 April. Remaining at Auckland until 27 April he then travelled by train – the same train built in New Zealand for his parents' visit 20 years before – to Rotorua. It was here that the itinerary was disrupted by a rail strike. After a Maori reception the Royal party was able to return to Auckland where, Government House being unprepared, Prince Edward stayed on Renown until 2 May, by which time some agreement in the dispute had been reached and the programme could be resumed. To make up for time thus lost, the Prince gave up a proposed shooting expedition in the Wairarapa.

The Royal train travelled south to reach Wellington on 5 May, and five days later Renown sailed for Picton and the South Island section of the tour. Following visits to Nelson and the West Coast, the Prince reached Christchurch where he became the first to be presented with the freedom of the city. The next stage was to Dunedin and it was here that a hare enlivened proceedings by dashing through the ranks on parade at Forbury Park. On 20 May the Royal visitor left for Invercargill, returning to Christchurch the following day. Early on 22 May he sailed on Renown for Australia.

A member of the Prince's entourage on this tour was his friend and cousin, Lord Louis Mountbatten, flag lieutenant to Admiral Halsey, the Prince's chief of staff. Later to become Earl Mountbatten of Burma and to visit the Dominion more than once as a distinguished visitor, Lord Louis has further links with New Zealand Royal visits – his younger daughter, Lady Pamela, accompanied the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, his nephew, on their tour in 1953–54.

The next Royal occasion was not until 1901 when Prince George Frederick Ernest Albert (1865–1936), Duke of Cornwall and York and second son of Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, arrived with his Duchess. The visit, part of an Empire tour, followed the opening of the Commonwealth Parliament in Australia and was also a tribute to the response made throughout the Empire during the Boer War. The Duke's commission had just been signed when Queen Victoria died; nevertheless it was decided that the tour should still take place.

The Royal couple left England on 16 March 1901 in the Ophir, an Orient liner of 6,910 tons specially converted for the purpose. It had a naval escort. They arrived at Auckland on 11 June, 24 hours ahead of schedule, the landing being delayed until the set time the following day.

The Duke and Duchess remained at Auckland until 13 June, and during this time laid the foundation stone of Queen Victoria High School for Girls. They also received from Sir John Logan Campbell the deeds of Cornwall Park, a gift to the people of New Zealand. Two days were spent at Rotorua, but a notable absentee from Maori receptions was the “Maori King” (q.v.). From Rotorua the party returned to Auckland to rejoin Ophir bound for Wellington. In Wellington foundation stones of the Town Hall and new Government railway offices were laid before the ship sailed on 21 June for Lyttelton. The Duke and Duchess stayed at Christchurch until 25 June when they travelled by rail to Dunedin. They returned to Lyttelton by the same route to sail for Tasmania on 27 June. Dunedin excelled itself with an elaborate series of decorations – with evergreen garlands, coloured drapings, and a line of Venetian masts. There were a number of special arches, including a Government and a City and Suburban arch, and the novel Chinese arch. At night the Octagon was a “scene of great beauty” with illuminated decorations, and fireworks were also a feature of the evening celebrations.

On their return to Britain the couple were proclaimed Prince and Princess of Wales and, on the death of Edward VII in 1910, became George V and Queen Mary.

The first royal visitor to New Zealand, the Duke of Edinburgh, arrived at Wellington on 11 April 1869 as Captain of HMS Galatea. Prince Alfred Ernest Albert (1844–1900), Duke of Edinburgh, was the second son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and was to become Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1893. After nearly a week in Wellington, His Royal Highness proceeded to Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Auckland, being received everywhere with great enthusiasm. In the Wellington of those days it was possible to arrange for the distinguished guest to go pig shooting on Miramar Peninsula and to picnic at Howe's Farm, Newtown. The stay in Auckland was prolonged until 1 June in an unsuccessful attempt to arrange a meeting with Maori leaders with a view to improving Maori-Pakeha relations. A notable feature of the decorations for the tour was the use of locally made and designed “transparencies” – thin fabric pennants with a variety of topical designs.

In the following year, on 27 August 1870, the Galatea with the Royal captain aboard returned briefly to Wellington, departing for Sydney on 3 September.

On a third and final visit, the Duke arrived at Auckland on 8 December 1870 and spent some time in the thermal regions and visiting the Maori people. He left for England on 16 January 1871.

Far distant though it may be from the Mother Country, New Zealand has always had a reputation for patriotism and affection for the Royal Family. Royal visits over a period of 100 years have all been characterised by widespread enthusiasm and interest. A feature of each royal occasion has been the emphasis given to opportunities for children, returned servicemen, and the sick and aged to see, and be seen by, royalty.

Tours have not always been unmarred by tragedy – war and death have intervened more than once to interfere with plans. In 1867 Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, had to postpone his visit for a year as the result of an attempt on his life in Sydney. In more recent years hopes were high for a visit from George VI and Queen Elizabeth at the time of His Majesty's final fatal illness; and his daughter was in the midst of a tour which would have included New Zealand when the King's sudden death necessitated her return to England.

(with date of election)

W. E. Adams (1959)

^*R. S. Allan (1940)

K. R. Allen (1961)

^*Sir Gilbert Archey (1932)

H. O. Askew (1939)

N. F. Barber (1964)

M. A. F. Barnett (1947)

C. R. Barnicoat (1961)

L. Bastings (1953)

Elizabeth Batham (1962)

G. T. S. Baylis (1961)

E. Beaglehole (1947)

F. D.. Beilschowsky (1961)

M. E. Bell (1952)

E. G. Bollard (1964)

^*L. H. Briggs (1942)

D. Browne (1963)

G. W. Butler (1965)

^*F. R. Callaghan (1961)

E. E. Chamberlain (1959)

D. S. Coombs (1962)

W. Cottier (1961)

Sir Charles Cotton (1921)

I. J. Cunningham (1963)

K. M. Curtis (1936)

R. K. Dell (1961)

^*J. K. Dixon (1961)

J. N. Dodd (1964)

R. S. Duff (1952)

Sir John Eccles (1950)

N. L. Edson (1948)

C. D. Ellyett (1961)

^*R. A. Falla (1941)

H. B. Fell (1960)

G. J. Fergusson (1961)

J. F. Filmer (1961)

^*C. A. Fleming (1952)

H. G. Forder (1947)

R. R. Forster (1961)

O. H. Frankel (1948)

J. F. Gabites (1962)

M. Gage (1961)

E. J. Godley (1965)

F. S. Gourlay (1961)

L. I. Grange (1942)

W. M. Hamilton (1962)

E. A. Hodgson (1961)

J. T. Holloway (1959)

N. de B. Hornibrook (1963)

C. O. Hutton (1945)

A. T. Johns (1964)

E. B. Kidson (1963)

G. A. Knox (1963)

D. F. Lawden (1962)

C. R. Laws (1950)

A. W. Liley (1965)

A. R. Lillie (1961)

F. J. Llewellyn (1964)

D. B. Macleod (1935)

B. J. Marples (1953)

^*Sir Ernest Marsden (1922)

J. Marwick (1935)

R. E. F. Matthews (1962)

F. H. McDowall (1962)

A. G. McLellan (1962)

J. A. R. Miles (1962)

^*D. Miller (1931)

L. B. Moore (1947)

M. Ongley (1948)

J. Packer (1964)

W. R. Philipson (1963)

R. O. Piddington (1963)

A. L. Poole (1962)

A. W. B. Powell (1940)

M. C. Probine (1964)

T. A. Rafter (1961)

L. R. Richardson (1959)

L. E. Richdale (1955)

Sir Theodore Rigg (1932)

Sir Douglas Robb (1961)

E. I. Robertson (1963)

P. W. Robertson (1950)

J. R. Robinson (1964)

J. T. Salmon (1949)

E. G. Sayers (1961)

F. B. Shorland (1951)

H. D. Skinner (1927)

L. M. Cranwell Smith (1944)

F. G. Soper (1949)

R. P. Suggate (1963)

N. H. Taylor (1956)

F. J. Turner (1938)

Sir John Walsh (1961)

H. W. Wellman (1954)

H. R. Whitehead (1950)

R. W. Willett (1961)

K. A. Wodzicki (1962)

*Past president

The Council of the Royal Society of New Zealand invites and expresses the views of its fellows, members, and committees on scientific problems of national importance. Its sectional committees report on the state and needs of the several disciplines. Ad hoc committees have dealt with such topics as fuel and power, earthquake risk, conservation, Antarctic research, the National Research Council Bill, etc. It contributes scientific experience by nominating representatives on many national bodies, such as the Board of Trustees of the National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum, the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, Ross Dependency Research Committee, National Parks Authority, National Historic Places Trust, Medical Research Council, UNESCO Technical Subcommission for Science, and Carter Observatory Board. The Society initiates and sponsors the Triennial New Zealand Science Congress, in which 28 different scientific societies participate, and has arranged publication of their proceedings.

International functions of the Royal Society include liaison with numerous scientific academies overseas. Leading overseas scientists are elected honorary members of the Society. The Royal Society of New Zealand is the adhering body for the International Council of Scientific Unions, is itself a member of several international unions and of the Scientific Committees for Antarctic Research and for Oceanic Research, and is the New Zealand participating body in the Pacific Science Association, appointing a permanent representative to the Pacific Science Council. In 1949 the Society was responsible for organising the Seventh Pacific Science Congress, held in New Zealand, and for publishing its proceedings. Close contact is maintained with the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science; meetings were held in New Zealand in 1936 and 1957. New Zealand representation is arranged and, to some degree, supported at international congresses in many sciences, general assemblies of international unions, and scientific celebrations, such as the Tercentenary of the Royal Society of London, and the Bicentenary of Princeton University.

The Royal Society of New Zealand functions as nominating body for a number of international prizes, fellowships, and bursaries, and the like.

The office and library of the Society are situated in the Kirk Building, Victoria University of Wellington.

by Charles Alexander Fleming, O.B.E., B.A., D.SC., F.R.S.N.Z., Chief Paleontologist, New Zealand Geological Survey, Lower Hutt.

• Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand (1961) 89 (2): 95–122 (Act and Rules), 123–134 (awards, officers, and council, past presidents, honorary members, fellows).

The Society administers memorial trust funds providing for awards for scientific research, including the Hector and Hutton medals and various grants.

The Hector Memorial Research Fund, in memory of the late Sir James Hector, is in the form of a bronze medal awarded annually, in rotation, for the following subjects: (a) botany, (b) chemistry, (c) ethnology, (d) geology, (e) physics (including mathematics and astronomy), (f) zoology. The first award in 1912 was to L. Cockayne followed by Sir Thomas Easterfield, Elsdon Best, P. Marshall, Lord Rutherford, and C. Chilton for outstanding work in subjects in the order named. These were followed by T. F. Cheeseman, P. W. Robertson, S. Percy Smith,. R. Speight, C. Coleridge Farr, and G. V. Hudson. This is a prized award which has been given to most of New Zealand's eminent scientists.

The Hutton Memorial Medal is an award of a bronze medal, usually at intervals of three years, for scientific work of great merit bearing on New Zealand zoology, botany, or geology. In addition, the Council may make grants from the accrued interest of the fund to any person, society, or committee. This award is in honour of Captain Wollaston Hutton. It was awarded first, in 1911, to Sir William Benham, then to L. Cockayne, P. Marshall, J. E. Holloway, J. A. Thomson, C. Chilton, and G. V. Hudson, all outstanding for work in one of these three subjects.

Other awards include the Hamilton Memorial Prize which is provided from money subscribed in memory of the late Augustus Hamilton, and is for the encouragement of beginners in pure scientific research in New Zealand. It is awarded at three-yearly intervals for original work and papers published within five years of first investigations. The Sidey Memorial was established by the collection of shilling contributions to commemorate the work of Sir T. K. Sidey, which led to the passing of the Summer Time Act of 1927. This award is for the promotion of scientific research into the study of light and other solar radiations in connection with human welfare. The sum of £100 may be awarded to a person making a valuable contribution into such study. In 1933 the first award was to Lord Rutherford with a special award to G. V. Hudson. Government research grants may be made from funds available to the Society to defray cost of apparatus, material, and expenses for research workers, such apparatus to remain the property of the Society. Other grants are those from the Mappin Trust (gift of Sir Frank Crossley Mappin) for research on problems in connection with New Zealand plants, especially diseases of plants; the Leonard Cockayne Memorial Fund provides an award to encourage botanical research, from funds subscribed in memory of this great botanist; and the E. R. Cooper Memorial is a recent award for research in the fields of physics and engineering.

The functions of the Society are local, national, and international.

Local responsibilities are met by the activities of regional branches in supporting museums, libraries, or observatories, holding meetings for delivery of lectures, and maintaining a watching brief over matters of scientific interest locally. Branches in the larger centres take turns in organising the triennial Science Congress of the Royal Society of New Zealand.

National responsibilities include the publication of the Society's Transactions, in four series since 1961 (General, Zoology, Botany, Geology), and of Bulletins, major works too large for inclusion in the Transactions. The library of the Rcyal Society of New Zealand, built up by exchange, consists of some 30,000 volumes, with an annual increment of 1,500 items. It contains many valuable long runs of scientific periodicals and constitutes a bibliographic tool for all New Zealand research workers, available through interloan.

High standards in research are encouraged by the election of New Zealand scientists of high achievement to the fellowship of the Royal Society of New Zealand, a statutory and honorary recognition of distinction for life which entitles the fellows (limited to 100) to use the letters F.R.S.N.Z.