The British Foreign Secretary hopes New Zealand and Australia will join an initiative to share diplomatic missions with Britain and Canada in remote countries.

In a key shift, the United States is lifting a ban on New Zealand navy vessels visiting US ports, and will remove obstacles to defence talks and exercises.

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman says deepening military co-operation with the US won't endanger NZ's relationship with China, saying we can be friends with both major powers.

Aussies like Kiwis more than anyone else in the world, and we think they are a fair dinkum partner, but that's as far as it goes.

It was refreshing to find out this week that NZ was "an isolated island to the east of Australia".