Experts have given a glowing review of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's meeting with US President Joe Biden in the White House on Wednesday morning.
Ardern became the first New Zealand Prime Minister since Sir John Key in 2014 to have a face-to-face meeting with a US President in the Oval Office.
The meeting in the Oval Office was meant to be an hour but went for an hour and a half. Several key issues were discussed such as China's presence in the Pacific, gun control and working with tech companies about extremism.
Ardern told media outside the White House following her meeting she was "heartened" by the conversation with Biden.
"I see the meeting with President Biden as a reflection of the relationship between New Zealand and the United States, warm, friendly, shared values and shared challenges," she said.
"The meeting length was probably a reflection of the many issues we wanted to traverse together but I'm greatly heartened by the nature of the conversation we had today."
Former United States ambassador to New Zealand Mark Gilbert told AM it's "fabulous" the two leaders got to meet.
"I think it's fabulous, any time we can get together to discuss the important issues of the day is fabulous," Gilbert told AM co-host Ryan Bridge.
"I think the Prime Minister has had a great trip to the US, her speech at Harvard came across really well and was well accepted, her meetings with the technology companies I believe went really well and today caps off a great time in the US."
Ardern said she invited Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris to New Zealand but Gilbert doesn't think he'll take her up on the offer.
"It's always great to have the invitation but with what's happening geopolitically around the world today that might it's a little difficult," he said.
"As you know with what's going on with Ukraine and Russia, tensions with China, inflation at pretty substantial levels, the President really has quite a bit on his plate right now. If things moderated and he was able to get to the region, I think it would be a wonderful thing for both countries."
Newshub Political Reporter Amelia Wade who is on the trip with Ardern and was in the Oval Office with the two leaders said the Prime Minister will be "chuffed" with how the meeting went.
"Wow, wow, wow, what a journey to get here and what a meeting itself. Jacinda Ardern managed to walk out of that meeting with a number of commitments from the President of the United States," Wade told Bridge.
"He wants to work with her on the Christchurch call, he also praised her leadership and he said he was really impressed with what she was doing with tech companies.
"He also praised New Zealand's significant response to Ukraine .... so I think Jacinda Ardern will be well chuffed with how that went today".
National Party leader Christopher Luxon praised the meeting with Biden saying "it's good thing" for New Zealand.
"I think it's absolutely fantastic that the Prime Minister of New Zealand has met with the President, it's a really good thing," Luxon told AM co-host Melissa Chan-Gree.
"It deepens the relationship and that ultimately leads to trading opportunities between our two countries. We are a trading country, we don't get rich selling stuff to each other, we have to go out in the world and make our way and the US is our third largest partner so it's just a really good thing this morning."
International trade expert Stephen Jacobi told AM the meeting capped off a great trip for the Ardern.
"Well, it's been a long time between drinks for visits to the White House and by any stretch of the imagination, this has to be a significant visit," he told AM.
"It caps off a very successful visit by the Prime Minister to the United States. We have a lot of things to talk about and it's right and fitting that she should be talking to the guy in charge."
Massey University communications professor Ted Zorn thought the meeting was important for three reasons.
"I think these meetings are important at three levels. There is the symbolism of it, the substance of it and then there is the relationship between the two leaders and I think it's important for all three of those reasons."
