Prince William gets first hand view of NZ quake damage

The second in line to the British throne toured the central area of the city, which is still closed to all but rescue workers, to see at first hand the impact of the magnitude 6.3 quake which struck on Feb 22, killing at least 166 people.Media and officials outnumbered members of the public as the casually dressed prince was briefed at the disaster relief headquarters before touring the central business district. The visit was seen as a morale boost for the city of around 400,000, smashed by two massive quakes in five months, the last of which killed at least 166 people.The prince had been applauded as he walked through the airport terminal after arriving, with one woman heard to call out thank you so much for coming to Christchurch. Christchurch promotes its English roots, from the immigrants who settled there in the mid-nineteenth century through to the names of its streets and river - the Avon - classical stone and masonry architecture and plush gardens.The princes grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, is New Zealands nominal head of state, and although the idea of the country becoming a republic has been raised, there is neither any impetus nor popular support for such a move.The prince was due to fly later on Thursday to the small town of Greymouth, around 250 km (160 miles) west of Christchurch to meet families of the 29 miners killed in the Pike River coal mine explosion last November.He will attend a memorial service for victims of the earthquake in Christchurch on Friday, before he leaves on Saturday for Australia where he will tour flood-damaged areas in Queensland.