PM to visit US, White House visit on cards

Prime Minister Jacinda Arden could be travelling to the White House to meet with US President Joe Biden as part of a trade trip to promote New Zealand.

The Government announced the trip this morning, with Ardern expected to depart this afternoon.

The trip has been framed as part of the Government’s ‘reconnecting strategy’, as Ardern goes out on the global stage to show New Zealand is open again for business.

Ardern plans to visit New York, Washington DC, Boston, San Francisco and Seattle.

Because of US Covid travel rules, the prime minister, who was originally meant to depart on Saturday, had to delay her travel until 10 days after testing positive. The result has also complicated a potential White House visit, which both nations are keen on.

A delegation, including Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials as well as a media contingent, departed New Zealand on Saturday. Business delegates will join the party today.

The other major highlight of the trip – and the event around which the trip was organised – will be Ardern delivering the Harvard University commencement speech.

The speech has previously been delivered by Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, former President John F Kennedy, former Secretary of State Madeline Albright, talk show host Oprah Winfrey and UK wartime prime minister Winston Churchill.

Ardern would not be drawn on what she would talk about, saying she had been drafting the speech for the past three weeks, and that ‘‘I might just finish it first’’.

‘‘Politically, I can’t imagine a more important time for political engagement. Obviously, you’ll see

the United States with engagement in the last few days with new NATO applicants.

‘‘The complete focus – not just on what the war in Ukraine means for the United States but for the world – but also a focus on our region,’’ she said in a pre-trip interview with media via Zoom.

The trip will also double as a trade delegation, with the prime minister meeting with tech executives and bringing a delegation of New Zealand business leaders with her.

The US is New Zealand’s thirdlargest trading partner with twoway trade valued at $18.5 billion annually. It is also New Zealand’s biggest trading partner in services.

The trip also comes at a time when New Zealand is seeking to build on its relationship with the United States, as New Zealand has hugged closer to traditional western partners, both during the Russian war in Ukraine, and more generally through adopting the language of the ‘‘free and open Indo-Pacific’’ in the region.

‘‘New Zealand’s relationship with the United States is one of our most enduring and significant. This mission will feature political and security engagement as well as tourism and trade promotion,’’ Ardern said.

Ardern would also be making a big push for tourism.

‘‘The US was our third-largest tourist market for arrivals preCovid-19, with travellers planning their visits months before coming in the New Zealand summer. So now is the right time to be visible in the US market [and] letting Americans know we are open for business and travel.’’

‘‘I can’t imagine a more important time for political engagement.’’

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern