Clinton takes sunny view of NZ link

The unflappable and positive Hillary Clinton took Christchurch by storm yesterday. Photo / Simon Baker

It was a cold, wet, miserable Christchurch day but the unflappable Hillary Clinton came to town smiling, cracking the odd joke and lavishing praise on the city for its handling of the big earthquake.

The United States Secretary of State exuded positivity as she fronted a variety of audiences in a busy speaking schedule around the city yesterday, and made special reference to the "resilience" of the locals after the September 4 disaster in Canterbury.

"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 told an invited audience of about 300 at the Christchurch Town Hall.

"For everyone here in Christchurch, the US sends its best wishes and lets you know we're very impressed by how this community responded. And more than that I recognise that Kiwis come 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."

Before flying to Christchurch yesterday morning, Mrs Clinton ended her stay in Wellington - where she met Prime Minister John Key and signed the partnership known as the Wellington Declaration - by paying tribute to New Zealanders killed at war with a wreath laid at the National War Memorial.

Security was tight everywhere Mrs Clinton went in Christchurch, with a large entourage of suited agents and police keeping close tabs on her every move. Guests and media were forced to go through x-ray screening at each event, and had to remove their shoes for checking before entry.

When she arrived about midday, she spoke with about 50 guests at the United States Antarctic Programme near Christchurch Airport, where the US launches its scientific expeditions to Antarctica.

Mrs Clinton called the NZ-US relationship the "strongest we have seen in a quarter-century".

The countries were working together in many areas but the scientific collaboration in Christchurch might be the strongest bond, she said.

She made special mention of New Zealand's ambassador to the US, former Prime Minister Mike Moore, who was in the audience.

"I keep an eye on the ambassador from New Zealand because he lives next door to me in Washington. My lips are sealed."

The "wonderful" mayoral chains worn by Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker also caught her eye. She stopped her speech to ask Mr Parker what the correct term was for the chains.

"Bling" was the mayor's response.

Mrs Clinton: "That's the official description. Excellent bling, mayor, excellent bling."

Fielding questions from the audience, she 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."

At a business function hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand, Mrs Clinton continued on the theme of the nations' blossoming relationship.

She gave an assurance that the US was committed to free trade with New Zealand through the Trans Pacific Economic Strategic Partnership, known as TPP.



A full transcript of Mrs Clinton's comments at the Christchurch Town hall is available on the US Department of State website here.

Click here to read her comments from a trade reception hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Christchurch and here for remarks made at an event at the Antarctic Centre.