WELLINGTON, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Prince William arrived in New Zealand on Sunday for for a three-day visit, his first official tour overseas as a royal representative.

    The prince, second in line to the British throne, will be standing in for his grandmother the Queen to open the new Supreme Court building in the New Zealand capital Wellington on Monday.

    The prince landed at Auckland international airport just before11:00 a.m. on Sunday aboard Air New Zealand flight NZ38 and was greeted by New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and the Governor General Anand Satyanand, Radio New Zealand reported.

    He later joined Key, Auckland mayor John Banks and the New Zealand All Black rugby team captain Richie McCaw to spend more than half an hour inspecting Eden Park stadium, which is under construction for next year's Rugby World Cup.

    Prince William will attend a hangi, a Maori traditional dinner,at Government House on Sunday night.

    Prince William is due to visit the Wellington children's hospital on Tuesday before flying to Australia for a short, unofficial visit.

    The prince has visited New Zealand twice previously, the most recent time for the British Lions rugby tour in 2005.