"What really worries me is when a leader of the Opposition goes around the world saying she's hearing these perceptions of an inadequate response and then contributes to them without setting the record straight."
Mrs Shipley, who has just returned from a trip to Finland, Paris and New York, said she was shocked by the perception overseas that New Zealand had not shown its support for the United States immediately after the attacks.
She said New Zealand business people based in America felt the country had fallen short of what would traditionally have been expected of it.
But Mr Goff said there was no hint of criticism from the US Administration of the steps New Zealand had taken.
He had contacted NZ officials in New York within two hours of the terrorist strike to express support for the US.
"We were also one of the first to make a pledge of military support should it be needed," said Mr Goff.
He said traditionally political parties had maintained a united stance when it came to threats to international security and while in Opposition the Labour Party had supported decisions made in terms of Bosnia and East Timor.
