Donald Trump's man in New Zealand, Scott Brown, has spent a day in the region visiting Rangitikei industry and speaking at the Rangitikei College senior prizegiving.
The US Ambassador to New Zealand spent Tuesday morning in Manawatu before heading over to Rangitikei for an itinerary put together by Rangitikei mayor Andy Watson.
Mr Watson said it was a "real neat visit" which included stops at ANZCO meatworks and the Dalrymple Family Farm in Marton.
"The meatworks was an education, and having the opportunity to get hands-on picking leeks with Hew Dalrymple was great fun," the US embassy's blog said.
"Then it was off to see the Downs Group's extraordinary transformation from small town electrician to world leader in off-grid alternative energy sources."
Mr Watson, who hosted Mr Brown for dinner, said the ambassador was invited by Rangitikei College which asked him to be the guest speaker at the school's prizegiving.
"They were probably surprised the he said 'yep, I'll do that'.
"He actually spoke really well. It was a speech that came across as a bit off the cuff and illustrated really that he got to where he did not because he was gifted but by putting down his head and working."
The embassy's blog said: "The impromptu haka was spine-tingling and a tribute to the respect that the students have for each other and their pride in their school."
Mr Watson had wanted to highlight the agricultural industry in Rangitikei, particularly around meat production.
Mr Brown took up the role of ambassador to New Zealand in June.
Last month he confirmed he faced an administrative inquiry over his behaviour toward women in Samoa in July at a Peace Corp function.