Clinton pays tribute to quake recovery effort

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior. Photo / Greg Bowker

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today paid tribute to the earthquake recovery effort in Christchurch.

Speaking to about 300 at the Christchurch Town Hall she said that kiwis had gone to the aid of so many others in need and shown "irresistible good cheer".

They were shared attributes with the United States and New Zealand.

Canterbury university lecturer Therese Arseneau introduced Mrs Clinton as powerful role model for women, and Mrs Clinton greeted the crowd with a warm "kia ora".

She praised the work of the Government, local authorities including police and the fire service for their work in clean up following the 7.1 earthquake that struck the region on September 4.

"It's hard to imagine for someone like me coming in now that a quake of the magnitude of 7.1 could have hit just two months ago."

She made a special mention for a group of Canterbury University students, whose Facebook page pulled in 1300 volunteers for a clean-up crew.

"For everyone here in Christchurch, the US sends its best wishes and let's you know we're very impressed by how this community responded and more than that I recognise that Kiwis comes to the aid of so many others when they're in need including countries devastated by the [2004 Boxing Day tsunami and the Samoan tsunami last year]."

"Americans greatly admire your willingness to step up and do what is needed with resilience and irresistible good cheer."

She repeated the goals of the Wellington Declaration, signed yesterday, and the new strategic partnership between New Zealand and the US.

"We have made a decision in the Obama Administration that we want to broaden and deepen our relationship and look for ways we can work together - from non-proliferation to the alleviation of poverty to women's right to violent extremism."

The declaration also declared the goal of promoting democratic institutions across the Pacific, Mrs Clinton said.

"We do not agree on every issue - I don't know two countries that do, and I don't know two people that do - and nuclear issues have divided us.

"But we share a common goal - a world without nuclear weapons. President Obama has set that as a vision for the US. It may not happen in his lifetime or in yours, but it must remain a goal that we move slowly but surely towards."

She said the US was trying to better understand New Zealand and young New Zealanders.

"It will not surprise you to hear that New Zealand is highly admired by Americans who are intrigued by what you have built here, who are trying to understand rugby and the great attraction that it holds, and are very committed to learning more about New Zealand."

Clinton recognises Antarctic partnership

A jovial Mrs Clinton also spoke to an audience at the United States Antarctic program in Christchurch this afternoon.

She praised the scientific collaboration between New Zealand and the USA, saying Antarctica was a crucial part of the relationship between the two countries.

Christchurch is the gateway to Antarctica for US research.

"We need each other and we have a great, great partnership," Mrs Clinton said.

Ms Clinton referred to the important work on climate change being done by American and NZ scientists in Antarctica, and also praised New Zealand for its recent rescue of a sick American scientist on the ice.

She joked with the audience that New Zealand's ambassador to the US, Mike Moore, was her next-door-neighbour and she kept her eye on him, "but my lips are sealed".

She also commented on how she loved the mayoral chains worn by Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker, who was in the audience.

She asked Mr Parker what the right terminology was the chains.

Mr Parker replied "bling".

Mrs Clinton responded that it was "excellent bling".

Clinton pays tribute to NZ war victims

Earlier Mrs Clinton ended her stay in Wellington by paying tribute to New Zealanders killed at war.

Mrs Clinton laid a wreath at the National War Memorial and met with American and New Zealand veterans before leaving for Christchurch. She stood before the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior while the Bell of Remembrance tolled.

Accompanied by Defence Minister Wayne Mapp, she then went into the Hall of Memories for the wreath laying. As the Last Post played the New Zealand and American flags were lowered to half mast outside before being raised again during the Reveille.

Mrs Clinton met briefly with veterans, enthusing over her trip to Wellington.

"l love it...I'm having such a good time," she said. "This was a really moving ceremony."

One of the American veterans Michael Riley had flown down from Auckland for the short service to have the opportunity to meet Mrs Clinton. A Vietnam War veteran, he moved to New Zealand in 1972. "She's doing a good job. It's a hard job, not easy."

Another veteran, Larry Keim, who was a Major in the United States Marine Corps, said he told Clinton he had met her before when she accompanied her husband, then President Bill Clinton, to Hawaii.

"It was nice she made it here and I was glad to see her."

He said New Zealand and American personnel had shared many experiences. He had served alongside New Zealanders on peacekeeping duties in Somalia at a time when many bases were closed down because of the violence.

"The Kiwis were just 'no worries mate' and they'd just go and get it done. If you're in a war you worry about who's on your left flank and your right flank. If it was Kiwis there, I didn't worry."

Mrs Clinton's wreath included lilies, carnations and red roses.

The note attached said "In grateful remembrance of all who have given their lives defending liberty, so that we may live in peace. With enduring friendship, Hillary Rodham Clinton".

Mrs Clinton laid a single red rose on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, stopping to read the inscriptions along its side.

The Air Force band played Pokarekare Ana as Clinton left for the airport.

There were no protests but about 50 members of the public gathered to watch, most keen to get a photo of Clinton.

During the signing of the Wellington Declaration yesterday Mrs Clinton had discussed the defence links between the two countries, paying tribute to New Zealand Defence Force personnel who had served alongside Americans in wars.

She made particular mention of Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell who was killed on patrol in Bamiyan this year.

Mrs Clinton said New Zealand's soldiers were making a valuable contribution to restoring stability in that country and rebuilding its ability to defend itself.