Government hails Peters' US visit a success

Mr Peters has been criticised for cutting off Senator John McCain. Picture / One News

The Government is hailing Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters' visit to Washington as a success and is playing down his ongoing feud with the news media.

Mr Peters met with United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice today.

He said the "warm, engaging" meeting of 30 minutes had set the tone for the two countries "forward-looking" relationship.

Dr Rice had expressed her "sincere appreciation" for New Zealand's efforts in different theatres in the world.

Mr Peters said the aim of his trip had been to strengthen New Zealand's relationship with the US.

"That's the outcome I wanted when I arrived here and that's the outcome we've got and I'm very pleased with it," he said.

"Myself and all of our team were delighted with the meeting and that means we're coming home having achieved what we set out to do in the case of this trip."

Mr Peters said Dr Rice had not raised New Zealand's anti-nuclear ban during the talks but had said it was time to "move on".

Defence and trade issues were not discussed as those portfolios were not held by Mr Peters.

The meeting had not been marred by exchanges with New Zealand journalists travelling with him, he said.

Mr Peters met yesterday with Republican Senator John McCain and said he had twice spoken with US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill.

Mr Peters has come under attack for cutting Senator McCain short mid-sentence as he talked up the idea of a trade deal while answering questions from New Zealand journalists.

Back in Parliament National MPs labelled Mr Peters an embarrassment who had put at risk US-NZ relations because of his feud with the media.

National Leader Don Brash tried to attack Mr Peters' credibility, asking whether his "rude" behaviour was appropriate.

It may have led to Dr Rice cutting a planned one-hour meeting to just 30 minutes, he said.

"Mr Peters may well have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory," Dr Brash said.

National's foreign affairs spokesman Murray McCully also asked Trade Minister Phil Goff how interrupting Senator McCain had assisted relations.

Mr Goff said the meeting with Senator McCain should be judged on its "substance", not the "spat" between Mr Peters and journalists.

Senator McCain and others were very strong supporters of New Zealand's case for a resumption of joint military training and a free trade deal.

Despite the warmth of the relationship it was unlikely any trade talks would begin in the near future, Mr Goff said.

Mr Peters' relationship with the media was "neither here nor there".

- NZPA