46609 (2024). Rt Hon Chris Hipkins to the Prime Minister

46609 (2024). Rt Hon Chris Hipkins to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his comments in Washington D.C. that he was focused on discussing “alignment on our values and the joint programmes” between the US and New Zealand; if so, which values and programmes of the United States align with New Zealand's interests?

Rt Hon Christopher Luxon: Yes, I stand by my comments. My discussions covered the many issues of common interest and the many shared values between the United States and New Zealand. Many of our common programmes of work relate to challenges to the international rules-based system. These include Russia’s war against Ukraine; attacks on shipping in the Red Sea; and concerns about how international law is observed in the South China Sea, among many other challenges where our interests and enduring values align with the United States.