Could Prince Harry and wife Meghan really come to the Bay of Plenty in October? It's a genuine possibility and local radio station, The Breeze, and Tourism Bay of Plenty are doing all they can to make it happen.

When the news came out earlier in the year that the newly-weds would be visiting NZ, The Breeze's breakfast hosts, Mark and Jolene, contacted Tourism Bay of Plenty's CEO, Kristin Dunne, to ask how they could help convince the royal couple to visit the Bay.

'The idea of creating a video to showcase our local attractions and messages welcoming them from locals spawned from that conversation,” says Mark. 'And it's being included in Tourism Bay of Plenty's official pitch for a royal visit.”

Over the past week, the radio pair have been out filming, from Otamarakau Marae to Dive Crescent.

'We'd love to see you in the Bay of Plenty and Tauranga when you visit New Zealand,” says Mark addressing the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in the video.

'We're all about the welcome,” says Jolene. 'It is the Bay of Plenty after all.”

They go on in the video to list many of the activities the couple could do when they come here. There are images of Mauao, Whakaari/White Island, dolphins, glow worm canoeing, Moturiki Island, and Mount Main beach.

'We even featured Baycourt Community & Arts Centre which was officially opened by Harry's parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, in 1983!” says Jolene. 'We thought Harry would love to see that.”

'We were surprised to find three of the people we've filmed have already met Harry,” says Jolene. Locals Ken Carrick showed Harry around the War Memorial Museum in Whanganui; Dan Busbridge met him as a child in Canterbury, England; and Tauranga MP, Simon Bridges, rubbed shoulders with him in an official capacity on the last Royal visit.

'I'd like to invite you, Harry and Meghan, to come and enjoy our city,” says Mayor Greg Brownless on the video. 'Especially come in the warmer weather and we'll take you out sailing on the harbour and enjoy the beaches and all the other wonderful things that Tauranga has got to offer.”

'Harry and Meghan, I just want to invite you along with The Breeze, to the Bay of Plenty,” says Simon. 'Harry it would be amazing to see you. I've met you before, you're a great guy. And if you remember I'm a great guy too, I've even got a son who's kind of named after you.”

'Harry, you probably won't remember me,” says Ken, 'but I showed you around the Whanganui War Memorial Centre in 2015. We would dearly love you to come back with your new wife and have a look around Tauranga.”

In the video, Kara Awhimate from Otamarakau Marae invites Harry and Meghan to fly in by helicopter to their beachside location for a powhiri, while V8 Trike Tours are offering to chauffeur them on their five-seat trike. In Papamoa, Diane Howell is offering them a room at her place Bijou Bed and Breakfast.

'This is the most beautiful place in New Zealand, and we'd love you to come and visit,” says Diane. 'You can take a beautiful stroll along the Papamoa beach and come back and enjoy a home-cooked roast lamb dinner, homemade apple pie, and we may even be able to source some beautiful NZ red wine.”

The video is being included in Tourism Bay of Plenty's official pitch to the Visits and Ceremonies Office at the Department of Internal Affairs in Wellington.

'Today, our CEO Kristin Dunne is being interviewed by Mark and Jolene on The Breeze,” says Angela Beardsmore, the Consumer Marketing Manager at Tourism Bay of Plenty.

'The video will also be released. On Monday we will be submitting our proposal, which will include our written proposal, along with the video and radio interview from The Breeze.

'We don't know when they are coming to New Zealand. When we did the quick email chat, they had no dates set but it was always planned to be in October. That was what the nation was told, but there are no secure dates as yet.”

With October only one month away, the question is whether there is enough time to plan.

'I've had history of working with royal visits and it can all happen in a very short space of time,” says Angie. 'I was involved in the Nelson part of Prince Charles and Camilla's last visit.”

In the proposal we do talk about being the kiwifruit capital of the world and the home of Whakaari/White Island,” says Angela. 'Obviously for them to get out to an active marine volcano would be fantastic.

'We also talk about being the home of high performance sport, which will appeal to Harry who created the Invictus Games, an international adaptive multi-sport event.”

Part of the proposal includes naming a kiwi trapline, which is dependent on time available for the couple to get to the site.

'We also talk about the Otamarakau Marae, glow worm kayaking, Zespri, BayStation, Baycourt, and various activities you can do that are unique to the Bay,” says Angela, as she completes the final proposal inviting the royal couple to the Bay of Plenty.

Mark and Jolene are crossing their fingers that Harry and Meghan will say "yes"!

Check out the video that Mark and Jolene at The Breeze created here - https://www.thebreeze.co.nz/home/shows/mark-eagle/vids/2018/watch-our-video-inviting-prince-harry-and-meghan-to-the-bay.html