Madam Secretary

‘Fresh energy’ in U.S.-New Zealand relations declared

Hillary Clinton with Murry McCully, April 7, 2009 Secretary Clinton has been re-energizing relations with countries around the world after eight years of the Bush administration. Yesterday, after she met with New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully, the Pacific country’s government issued a news release declaring, “McCully sees fresh energy in NZ-US relations.” The foreign minister said: It ...

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586988_090408_ClintonWithMcCully2.jpg
586988_090408_ClintonWithMcCully2.jpg
WASHINGTON - APRIL 07: New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully (L) and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (C) shake hands and exchange a signed arrangement for cooperatoin on nonproliferation assistance to secure nuclear and radioactive materials in the Treaty Room of the State Department April 7, 2009 in Washington, DC. The arrangement has New Zealand pledging US$350,000 to support the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration's Second Line of Defense program in equipping Kazakhstan's borders with radiation monitors, related infrastructure and training. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Hillary Clinton with Murry McCully, April 7, 2009

Hillary Clinton with Murry McCully, April 7, 2009

Secretary Clinton has been re-energizing relations with countries around the world after eight years of the Bush administration. Yesterday, after she met with New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully, the Pacific country’s government issued a news release declaring, “McCully sees fresh energy in NZ-US relations.”

The foreign minister said:

It was an excellent meeting. I came away confident that the impetus and commitment the New Zealand government intends to bring to this important relationship will be reciprocated.

In the April 7 photo above, McCully and Clinton shake hands and exchange an agreement they signed for cooperation on nonproliferation assistance to secure nuclear and radioactive materials and prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

This positive development in U.S.-New Zealand relations is excellent news for Clinton, because she’s had a couple of New Zealand-related gaffes. Clearly, though, it appears that the New Zealand government has a sense of humor and doesn’t hold any grudges.

Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Preeti Aroon was copy chief at Foreign Policy from 2009 to 2016 and was an FP assistant editor from 2007 to 2009. Twitter: @pjaroonFP
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