Scoop reports that the President of Singapore is visiting New Zealand from Monday. The New Zealand Defence Forces will give the President, S.R. Nathan, the proper mihi (Maori welcome).

Singapore is a parliamentary republic with a directly elected ceremonial head of state, the President. Unlike New Zealand, Singapore does not have a strong multi-party democracy, with one party - the People's Action Party - dominating parliament and the presidency. While the Presidency is now meant to be directly elected (prior to 1993 the President was elected by parliament - which mean the PAP's nominee always won), there has only been one election that has gone to the ballot - the first in 1993. The other two, in 1999 and 2005, were essentially decided by a nominations committee.