President to visit New Zealand

President Mary McAleese is making her first official state visit to New Zealand next month, it emerged today.

During the week-long trip Mrs McAleese is expected to meet the country's Governor General Anand Satyanand, the Prime Minister Helen Clark and members of the government.

The itinerary is believed to include visits to Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin and Queenstown.

Meetings with the Irish community, local business people and the Maori community are also scheduled.

Former Governor General Dame Silvia Cartwright paid a state visit to Ireland last year while Clark visited in 2005.