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In a sign of improving defence links between Washington and Wellington, a New Zealand warship is visiting mainland ports in the United States for the first time in 25 years.
Te Kaha Commander Commodore Matthew Williams says he is pleased with the trip.
When former PM David Lange banned nuclear armed or powered warship visiting New Zealand ports in 1989, the nuclear-free zone meant defence ties with the US were also frozen, with New Zealand excluded from the ANZUS military alliance.
But New Zealand's ambassador to the US believes a lot of water has gone under the bridge since then, thanks to New Zealand's contribution to the US-led War on Terror.
"Our military are already doing a lot together in Afghanistan in Operation Enduring Freedom, where indeed this ship Te Kaha has served on previous deployments and I expect that military co-operation will continue to grow in the years ahead," says Roy Ferguson.
The big question now is whether those military ties will mean US warships will again dock in New Zealand.
Prime Minister John Key says he would not be opposed if it could fit the conditions,
"We need to meet in relation to our anti-nuclear legislation and the sticking point of course is, not withstanding the substantive thawing of the policy, the US still has the confirm or deny policy."
The Te Kaha is currently in San Francisco and will sail into the port of San Diego at the weekend and then it will be off to Hawaii, before making the journey home next month.
The frigate Te Kaha is accompanied on the trip by the tanker
Endeavour.
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