British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has been welcomed on a Kaikoura marae - joking that the "beautiful" hongi he received "might be misinterpreted in a pub in Glasgow".

Johnson also thanked representatives of Takahanga Marae for the hospitality they gave British tourists who were stranded in the area after the earthquakes in November last year.

"I can see why it attracted those tourists who came here and were here last November when the Kaikoura earthquake struck. And all I want to say is, thank you again from the bottom of my heart for your kindness and the way you reached out to them and the way you looked after them.

"I know they slightly overstayed their welcome. You obviously know how to lay on a good meal. I'm told they ate you out of house and home, they ate heaps of crayfish and really didn't want to go.

"Because of the kindness and generosity that was shown by the people of this community, the word is going to spread across the planet and you will find more and more people who will want to come in this beautiful country."

It is Johnson's first time in New Zealand.

Pleasure to show Boris Johnson around Kaikoura this morning. He thanked the community for looking after British tourists after the quake. pic.twitter.com/KWthaApDOg

— Nathan Guy (@NathanGuyOtaki) July 23, 2017

He said he was "ashamed" it had taken him so long, saying it was the "most mind-blowingly, mind-numbingly beautiful country that I've ever seen".

"And I think probably the only landscape that I can think of that can conceivably do justice to the imagination of JRR Tolkien and the Lord of the Rings."

Johnson said he was discovering things New Zealand had in common with Britain, including "a tradition of strong female leadership which we have back home".

"There are many things that are different which I'm learning - thank you for teaching me the hongi, which I think is a beautiful form of introduction, though it might be misinterpreted in a pub in Glasgow if you were to try it."

Johnson has also met with local business operators at the Whaleway Station.

He will also be briefed on the reconstruction of State Highway 1 and the marina reconstruction, before arriving in Wellington this afternoon.