We posted the following on 13 December:
The Hive is monitoring developments in relations between the US and New Zealand closely. If this was the cold war, and if the two countries were being scrutinised closely by intelligence agencies, red flags would be raised. What is going on?? We understand that there are five Congressional delegations due in New Zealand between now and February and there is a high level official from the State Department due also (Trans Tasman keeps reporting this as Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, but we think that it is more likely to be US Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs, Paula Dobriansky. Dobriansky is a heavy hitter - she is currently leading the US delegation to the Bali Climate Change meeting, and would be the most senior visitor from the State Department for many, many years). She did speak at the US-NZ Partnership Forum in Washington in 2006, and is known to take a close interest in the relationship.
Paula did visit in January.
Yesterday Trans-Tasman wrote that the hopes of a visit by Rice seem to have been dashed. It goes on to repeat the Government spin that this is nothing to do with the imrpoving New Zealand relationship but all due to scheduling. For once we agree with the spin machine. Our own sources seemed to indicate as much - see our post of 24 January.
The mystery that remains is what is happening on the trade front? An announcement on P4 expansion was expected in January. We had guessed that Goff might get to announce this after meeting his US counterpart at Davos - but he did not go to Davos.
