Wellington: Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan threw rubber gumboots on Tuesday as children cheered in a competition in New Zealand's largest city of Auckland, though Harry's team ended up losing to his wife's side.

A 6.1 magnitude earthquake felt by thousands of people in New Zealand did not disrupt the schedule of the couple, who are on the final leg of a Pacific tour that has included Australia, Fiji and Tonga.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex competes in a 'gumboot-throwing' contest following a ceremony to dedicate a 20-hectare area of native bush to the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy in Auckland,. Credit:AP

Lashings of rain and wind also did nothing to dampen the spirits of the public as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex greeted their Auckland fans.

An army of spectators equipped with umbrellas and raincoats lined the waterfront of New Zealand's largest city to see Prince Harry and Meghan on the second last day of their tour of the region.