On the surface you'd wonder why a Czech domiciled by appointment in Australia would visit New Zealand.

But the ties between the countries are strong and tangible, acknowledged by Czech Republic Charge d'Affairs Ondrej Bohac in Rotorua yesterday.

His visit at Te Puia, where he met with Government Under Secretary Fletcher Tabuteau, coincides with a Czech television showing of a documentary about Maori culture.

The Czech Republic has tangible links with New Zealand. In the 1980s, 1^st Secretary Alexander Dubcek of Prague Spring (1968) derring do renown spent a couple of days here.

Later, so did writer Vaclav Havel, later 1^st President (1993-2003).

The visit was Ondrej's first, but he will return in November for another visit.

His appointment includes duties in Canberra, Australia, where he has lived for a year and a half.

He held meetings with government officials and visited parliament to discuss trade in Wellington in what was largely a goodwill visit.

Deep talks: Czech charge d'Affairs Ondrej Bohac chats with Te Puia director Tim Cossar.

His Rotorua visit led to meetings with Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick and Te Puia chief Tim Cossar, along with Fletcher Tabuteau.

'We are preparing a number of visits in October and November from the Czech Republic in the upcoming months,” Ondrej says.

He says at least 10,000 New Zealand residents are confirmed Czechs, but unofficially the overall number is closer to 15,000.

Since perestroika 30 years ago, and in 1993 Slovakia was sliced from Czech Republic, the ties with New Zealand have been strong.

'We are commemorating 30 years from the so-called Velvet Revolution, the transition from communism, and we are celebrating that on November 17,” he says.

'Our community in New Zealand is small,” he says. But a holiday programme involving NZ was a lure for young Czechs.

The Czech's main commodity, Skoda cars, were popular in this country and Australia.

'The cars are still made in the Czech Republic and they represent a great name.”

Er, did he drive a Skoda?

'I do, I do! Everyone at the embassy – we all drive Skoda cars.”