And so we come to the last day of the Royal Tour and thankfully Harry and Meghan are getting some good weather at last.

This is great news, not just for the royals who are enjoying the scenic wonders of Rotorua, the Redwoods, Rainbow Springs and a walkabout around Government gardens, which is one of my favourite places. 

But it’s also good news for New Zealand Inc, because as the press pool spreads their pictures around the world and it’s always good when the pictures feature blue skies.

And make no mistake, that’s what all this should be about.

Yes, the royal tour is good for New Zealanders as members of the Commonwealth to see the royal family, and we seem strangely overwhelmed by what in all honesty is just two humans and not even frontline royals. But what is with the walkabout and everyone waving the Union Jack – why weren’t they waving the New Zealand flag?

But fortunately the rest of the world is also quite interested.  Harry has always been popular as the lovable tearaway who came right.  But add in an American actress from a well-loved show with a bit of colour thrown in, then the couple have a star power that is fully disproportionate to the influence of their position.

They are the perfect power couple of 21st royalty.  They are the Kardashians of blue bloods. They’re influencers of the highest order. Their royals in a social media world.

Already our fashion designers are seeing the benefit.  Karen Walker’s trench coats sells out. Boh Runga’s jewellery sells out.  Meghan Markle wore a 1737 brooch to promote our helpline services.

But, despite their undoubted power, there are some who still quibble about the bill, which we foot.  For this tour is reportedly around $1.2 million.

To that I say: chill out.

Firstly much of the expense is part of daily use of state resources. The wages of the security forces, the drivers, the helicopter pilots, the cost of the helicopter to Abel Tasman National park itself.  Those costs exist whether Harry and Meghan were here or not.

And it’s important that these events are not seen as spending and as costs to the taxpayer, which carries negative attitude.

This Royal tour has been an investment.  An investment in visibility and it’s come pretty cheap and its payoffs are real.  And it’s been loads of fun.