Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison mark the hosting of the FIFA women's World Cup after they met in Queenstown for bilateral talks.
Opinion by Barry Soper
Barry Soper is Newstalk ZB's senior political correspondent
They're Scott and Jenny to our Prime Minister and our first couple are Jacinda and Clarke to their Prime Minister.
Never since the days of sleepovers by John Key at the Sydney mansion of Malcolm Turnbull has there been such transtasman bonhomie.
To perhaps emphasise the point, Ardern evenpublicly flirted with her Aussie counterpart saying to cocktail clinkers that she was sure he wouldn't mind being called in public what she calls him in private.
In fact, she admitted during the Covid crisis she called him more often than she called her mother.
It's a far cry from February last year when she told a grinning Morrison, against the backdrop of the magnificent Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, his policy of deporting bad ass Kiwis was corroding their relationship.
Over the past year the crims have caused much more trouble than they were doing back then but that now appears to be done and dusted, she's made her point and he's made his.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison swap football jerseys during a dual Prime Ministers press conference in Queenstown. Photo / Getty Images
It's what's the often-repeated family and whanau do, it seems, have disagreements and get over them. Any differences were left on the welcome mat at the front door as they presented their united front.
Forget any frustration the Aussies may have had about us not joining the Five Eyes condemnation of China, they now only have eyes for each other.
But do they, is this a front simply because there's trouble on the horizon, and they will need each other?
Morrison made mention of those who wanted to force them apart, to break their bond, but wouldn't elaborate, even though he was obviously meaning China and the myriad of problems that'll be presented on that front for both of our countries in the foreseeable future.
New Zealand joining with Australia in bringing the Dragon to the table on a rules-based trading system rather than imposing 80 per cent tariffs on their barley exports and the 200 per cent on their wines.
Let's hope our eggs are in a few more baskets before we feel the Dragon's breath.
This fleeting trip to Queenstown, around 26 hours on the ground, was highly orchestrated with them both walking on eggshells.
Ardern almost broke one as her one and only press conference with her buddy wound up.
She was asked whether this country would like to deport the Mosque terrorist to serve out his life in Australia just as the Australians do with our crims there.
Ardern, quick as a flash, said she believed the Morrison Government on occasion deports "Australian" criminals here, in clear reference to the fact they've spent most if not all of their lives there.
In the only unscripted question, I sought Scott Morrison's view on that. Before he had a chance to upset the apple cart, she chimed in: "Oh look we won't get into ad-libbing there Bri, Barry cos it's not fair on everyone else," and wrapped the press conference.
That shows how stage managed this whole day was, journalists having to submit their questions in advance, presumably to ensure the experienced leaders aren't blindsided and risk undoing all the love that had been so carefully expressed.
