Tonga's King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau'u are currently on their first official state visit to New Zealand.

The Royal Party arrived in Wellington on Saturday, and yesterday, Sunday February 24, the King and Queen attended a church service at the Wesley Methodist Church on Taranaki St, in central Wellington.

The Dominion Post reported that the service was conducted by Rev. Viliami Finau who "was noticeably very emotional about having the King attend his church."

Rev. Finau said that the occasion was not just a Wellington Methodist church service. "It's a Tongan get together. It's great to see the community come together to have a service with the King."

"I'm honoured to have the King in my church. It's very humbling," he said.

Tongans from Wellington, Tawa, Lower Hutt, Avalon and Upper Hutt attended the church service.

Three choirs and a brass band performed at the church, and it was reported that the service ended with a rousing Tongan rendition of Handel's Messiah.

King Tupou VI began his official engagement this morning with a state welcome at Government House, Wellington.

Later in the afternoon King Tupou VI was to attend a wreath-laying ceremony at the National War Memorial and later visiting Government House to meet the directors of Polytechnics International New Zealand.

King Tupou VI was to meet the Prime Minister John Key before attending a State Dinner in the evening.

Tomorrow morning, Tuesday, 26 February the King will meet the Governor General of New Zealand, Lt. General Sir Jerry Mateparae before the Royal Party leaves for Auckland.

In Auckland the King will visit educational institutions, including the Cognition Education and the Auckland University of Technology. Queen Nanasipau'u will also visit the Langimalie Integrated Family Health Centre, Fonua Ola Network, South Auckland Family Violence Prevention Network and the Child Youth and Family Centre in 'Otahuhu.

The King and the Queen are accompanied on their official visit, by the Minister of Education, Hon. Dr 'Ana Taufe'ulungaki,  Lt. Sione Ngu, the Lord Chamberlain Viela Tupou, and a Lady in Waiting Kavamoli Tuku'i'aulahi.

The King and the Queen of Tonga's official visit to New Zealand will end on Wednesday.