Prince William has arrived in New Zealand at the start of a five-day tour of the region hit by earthquakes and flooding in recent months.
The visit will also see the prince fly to the Australian states of Queensland and Victoria where dozens of lives were claimed and communities devastated by floodwaters.
Prince William's arrival in the region comes as Japan continues to count the cost of its recent earthquake and tsunami.
While here on behalf of the Queen, who is New Zealand's head of state, the prince will visit Christchurch city centre hit by a 6.3 magnitude earthquake on February 22.
According to Clarence House, Prince William is "very honoured" to be invited to pay his respects in "a place which is very close to him".
The earthquake, whose epicentre was just six miles south east of the city, was New Zealand's deadliest disaster for more the 80 years, claiming more than 200 lives.
Prince William will also attend Friday's National Memorial Service for those who perished in the earthquake.
And he will address the tens of thousands of New Zealanders who are expected to attend the event.
There will be a moment of silence at exactly 12.51pm in Christchurch, the moment the earthquake struck.
The prince, himself an RAF search and rescue pilot based in North Wales, is set to meet members of the emergency and search and rescue teams who helped pull people alive from the rubble.
The prince's tour of Christchurch's 'Red Zone', the worst affected part of the city, coincides with news the royal couple has set up a charitable gift fund for those wishing to donate to charity to help celebrate their wedding on April 29.
Among the charities to benefit is the New Zealand Government's Christchurch Earthquake Fund.
During his visit to New Zealand's South Island the prince, travelling without his fiancee Kate Middleton, will also fly to Greymouth to meet relatives of the victims of the Pike River Mine disaster.
According to St James' Palace, the trip had been under consideration for weeks as members of the royal family watched "saddened and shocked" as a string of natural disasters hit the two Commonwealth countries.
Once invitations had been received from Australia and New Zealand, together the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William decided the prince would make the trip to pay respects on behalf of the whole family.
It is also thought such a short trip, so far away, is more suited to the 28-year-old rather than his grandmother, who is soon to turn 85.
Kate Middleton's absence is due to the fact the prince is there as the Queen's representative and Ms Middleton is not yet a member of the royal family.
Couple signed a book of condolence for quake victims last month