Auckland traffic makes Hague feel 'at home'

A powhiri greeted Foreign Secretary William Hague, pictured with Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae. Photo / Greg Bowker

British Foreign Secretary William Hague joked tonight that Auckland's traffic chaos made him feel right "enormously at home."

Mr Hague was speaking at a reception at Auckland's Maritime Museum hosted by Foreign Minister Murray McCully.

Mr Hague, who turns 50 in March, has never been to New Zealand before.

He said the other thing that made him feel at home was his conversation with Parliament Speaker Lockwood Smith over their shared parliamentary invective.

"In fact you acquired some of it from us I think."

He recalled former British Speaker Betty Boothroyd dealing with a member who accused another of having the morals and principles of a sewer rat and said such comparisons were out of order.

"The member pulled himself up and said Madam Speaker I withdraw that remark and sewer rats throughout the nation will be relieved they can't be compared to the honourable member opposite."

"You I know have the same standards of parliamentary debate that we have established over the centuries."

Mr Hague is travelling with a large delegation including Defence Secretary Liam Fox and Britain's chief of Defence General Sir David Richards.

They have been to Australia and to Hong Kong.

It is the first visit by a British Foreign Secretary to Australia or New Zealand since Douglas Hurd's 18 years ago but Hague said tonight there was some dispute over the last time.

It is part of an effort by Britain to regain some of global influence - some of which has been submerged into the European Union - and to refresh its relationship with some of economically important parts of the world including the Asia Pacific region.

Mr Hague said the historic ties were a strength but they could be even closer.

Britain felt close to New Zealand.

"When you have experienced in recent times a devastating earthquake or the Pike River [mining] disaster, we follow and feel these things too."

Mr McCully reminded Mr Hague that he had spoken to him shortly after the British Government was formed in May last year and Mr Hague expressed a determination to visit New Zealand early in his five-year term.

"It is somewhat easier to say than to achieve in practice. That you have made this visit with your cabinet colleague, and the chief of your defence force in the first year in office is a huge vote of confidence in the relationship and I want you to know that we very much appreciate it."

Mr Hague and Dr Fox and Sir David were greeted with a powhiri when they arrived at Whenuapai this afternoon.

Mr McCully, Dr Mapp, and Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae were there to greet their counterparts.