JOURNALISTS jostled madly for a glimpse of the future British king but it seemed the Kiwi public couldn't care less about having Prince William in town.

The young prince dashed into Auckland for a whirlwind two-day visit today to be met at the airport by just 10 enthusiastic royalists.

Network Nine was so disappointed with the turn-out their reporter penned a few "I love William" signs for female bystanders to wave about.

At his first engagement, a casual tour of Eden Park, the home ground for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, the mood was brighter, with the All Blacks and Kiwi prime minister John Key both beaming over the royal company.

Team captain Richie McCaw called him an "all-round good bloke", while young kids hand-picked to toss a rugby ball with him talked excitedly about his "good manners," "nice accent" and how he'd look good in a crown.

The 27-year-old said all the right things to win this praise, telling the media: "I just love seeing everyone and seeing more of New Zealand, so it's great".

But despite his enthusiasm and his blow-by-blow itinerary being printed in several New Zealand newspapers, no Kiwi fans showed up at the gates to see their royal representative.

"It's low-key to say the least," said Hello! reporter Judy Wade, a longtime royal watcher who has followed Prince William since the day he was born.

"Compared to people back home, those here really don't seem that interested at all.

"As one Kiwi I spoke to put it: I think they'd rather spend a nice day like this at the beach."

The welcoming party increased to almost 100 when the second in line for the British throne popped down to Auckland's waterfront for a harbour spin in New Zealand's America's Cup yacht.

But British television reporters were overheard talking about a distinct pro-republican feeling in the country.

Indeed, Prince William's arrival was greeted by an editorial in the country's Dominion Post calling for an end to royal rule Down Under.

It's a shift in thinking that legendary Sun photographer Arthur Edwards said couldn't be denied.

"New Zealand once was the most loyal to the monarchy of all the Commonwealth countries that I've ever visited," said Edwards, who has covered almost every royal tour for the last 40 years.

"But I think now there's more of a republican view being sought after, and maybe there's time for New Zealand to go their own way, and Australia too.

"But whatever happens it will be their choice."

Interest hasn't waned among British media however, with much excitement over Monday's itinerary when Prince William will officially represent the Queen for the first time on foreign soil at a Supreme Court opening in Wellington.

Stephen Yates from the Guardian said this was the young royal's "big moment" to step up to the plate and show he can lead the monarchy into the future.

"He's been waiting for years for this moment so we'll all be watching him very carefully," Yates told AAP.

"It will be a very big day for him indeed and one that shows what he's capable of in his future role as king."

It was a point clearly not missed on Prince William, who told reporters in a brief press conference he'll be working hard to maintain his grandmother's high standards on tour.

"I want to be able to do something good and keep the standards up that she has led the way with," he said.

But he was keen to downplay expectations that he would undertake more tours on her behalf.

"We'll wait and see, I wouldn't get too carried away.

"I've still got a lot of training to do, and I need the training, believe me."

The prince will also lay a wreath at New Zealand's National War Memorial and visit Wellington Children's Hospital before flying out to Sydney on Tuesday morning.

