THE Saints received a traditional Maori welcome in Wellington olast week, as part of the conclusion to their Australia Post Community Camp in New Zealand.

The Te Atiawa tribe performed a symbolic welcoming ceremony to the players at the Wharewaka on Friday afternoon.

The players were invited out on the harbour in a traditional Waka to paddle the ceremonial canoe on Wellington Harbour.

AFL Multicultural Ambassador Ahmed Saad said he was honoured to receive the welcome and learn about the Maori culture.

The Saints concluded the trip yesterday conducting an AFL clinic at Wellington’s popular attraction Te Papa Museum before attending the AIS v New Zealand Hawks game.

1,900 tickets have been sold in New Zealand to the Anzac Day game in just three days, with almost 4,500 tickets sold overall.

To find out more about St Kilda’s historic match in Wellington on April 25, visit http://www.saints.com.au/NZ