Diplomatic pick sings NZ’s praises

"They are fiercely independent, and you can’t tell them what you want you have to ask them." US Ambassador nominee Scott Brown

New Zealand has been an ‘‘unwavering friend’’ to the United States, admired for its ‘‘fiercely independent’’ foreign policy, the US Foreign Relations Committee has been told by the man seeking to become ambassador here.

Lawyer and former Republican US Senator Scott Brown appeared before his confirmation hearing yesterday morning (NZ time).

A formal vote was yet to been taken, but it was the first time since being nominated by President Donald Trump that he had been able to speak on his views of the relationship between the two countries.

Both Democrat and Republican senators grilled Brown on how he would handle New Zealand’s growing trade relationship with China, New Zealand’s place in the Five Eyes intelligence network and its non-nuclear stance.

New Zealand was in the midst of upgrading its free trade agreement with China and Brown drew a wide berth around questions over whether that relationship could be problematic for the US.

He said focusing on assisting businesses to operate in both countries would further strengthen the US-NZ relationship.

‘‘From my research we are in fact, the No 3 trading partner - I’d like to be No 2, and potentially No 1.

‘‘Can that happen? I’m not sure,’’ he said.

‘‘They’re in an interesting position in which they do a tremendous amount of trade - China is their No 1 trading partner.

‘‘And the thing that’s really stuck out with me is the fact that even though there’s that business relationship, that trade relationship, they’re not afraid to stand up and say ‘excuse me China, by the way, the fact that you’re building islands and militarising them and changing the law of the air and the law of the sea and international law that has been in place forever we don’t like that.’

‘‘They are fiercely independent, and you can’t tell them what you want - you have to ask them. One of the things that my wife and I look forward to, in particular, is getting a fair go by the people of New Zealand.’’

He would not receive Five Eyes briefings until after he was confirmed, but said New Zealand was a ‘‘highly valued’’ partner.

While New Zealand’s ban on nuclear ships had led to a contentious period in the relationship between the two countries, it had significantly warmed.

In his own testimony, Brown said New Zealand had been an ‘‘unwavering friend of the United States’’.

There were both challenges and opportunities in the Pacific region.

Brown said he was committed to increasing bilateral trade and commerce opportunities, assisting with the illegal fishing concerns, ‘‘and recognising and helping to solve environmental issues’’.

‘‘Above all, my greatest responsibility will be to assist and protect the interests of US citizens who are either living in or visiting New Zealand and Samoa.’’

He said he was honoured to be nominated by Trump for the posting, which held crossaccreditation to Samoa.

The Foreign Relations Committee vote was likely to be early next week. After that, Brown’s nomination would go to the senate for a full vote.