On the eve of the biggest meeting of her Prime Ministership, Jacinda Ardern says she will discuss the tension in the Pacific with President Joe Biden.
Before Ardern took off for the US, it was going to be her mission to talk about trade, climate change, and Ukraine. But China's plays in the Pacific this week have skyrocketed it up her agenda.
It's a historic day - for New Zealand at least - at the White House on Wednesday. And when Ardern meets with President Biden, it will be China's role in the Pacific that has now accelerated to the top of the agenda.
"Look, there'll be a number of issues on the agenda as you can imagine, but really top of mind for us alongside obviously the war in Ukraine, is the situation in our region," Ardern told media.
New Zealand wants America back in the Pacific as a counterweight to China's growing influence.
"What's really important is that all of our relationships in the Pacific need to be built in their own right, not because another country is present. This cannot all be about China," Ardern said.
Cannot all be about China - and yet so much of it is. But Ardern is determined to continue the tradition of not picking a side between the superpowers.
"Regardless of political party or the shade of Government, New Zealand has been absolutely solid on maintaining our independent foreign policy. It is fair to say though that we align closely on many issues on partners that share our values," Ardern added.
And by that Ardern means New Zealand is better friends with the US. They're currently going through an infant formula crisis - 90 percent of its stock is gone, with babies in hospital.
New Zealand obviously has the milk and this could form part of trade discussions.
"We look to overcome some of the trade barriers that our region faces," Ardern said.
Also likely to come up - gun control. Biden today promised change, however Americans are less optimistic change is possible.
"America's founded on violence," one told Newshub.
Ardern said she's "absolutely open" to sharing New Zealand's experience - however she added: "It's just that though, it's New Zealand's experience."
New Zealand at the White House, sharing its experience for the first time in almost a decade.
