Boris Johnson orders a crate of wine to host Murray McCully

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson speaks with New Zealand Foreign Secretary Murray McCully. Photo / Getty Images

While Prime Minister Theresa May enjoys her summer holiday in the Alps, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is holding down the fort at home.

As a result he hosted his New Zealand counterpart Murray McCully in London - and it appears he gave him a warm welcome as Johnson was spotted walking into his offices with an aide carrying a crate of wine scurrying behind him.

The aide was carrying a box of Three Choirs English wine - presumably a gift for McCully - which is made in Gloucestershire, the Daily Mail reports.

Johnson is in charge of the country until Wednesday, when May returns from her holiday.

Today's meeting was about collaboration with New Zealand on aviation security, including proposals to hold a UN security Council meeting during the UN General Assembly in September.

Both Ministers discussed current international security threats, including the evolving threat from ISIS and the situation in Ukraine.

The Foreign Secretary also welcomed New Zealand's troop deployments to Afghanistan and highlighted the need for ongoing international support for the government in Kabul.

Johnson said: "It was a great pleasure to host Foreign Minister McCully in London. The UK and New Zealand are not only longstanding friends but we are like-minded global partners across the full range of challenges facing the world today.

"With New Zealand on the UN Security Council, we are working even more closely to promote global peace and stability. As partners in the Commonwealth, we share values, history, language and systems of law and order.

"We discussed the dynamic trading relationship between our two countries and I emphasised that the UK remains firmly open for business. We are the same outward-looking, globally-minded, big-thinking country we always have been.

"The government strongly welcomed New Zealand's enthusiasm following the EU referendum for a Free Trade Agreement with the UK in the future. The UK will want the strongest possible economic and people to people links with a close friend and important partner like New Zealand in years to come".