On November 15, 2006, the NZ-US Parliamentary Friendship Group was launched in the New Zealand Parliament.  NZ US Council Chairman Rt. Hon Jim Bolger congratulated Group Chairman Gerry Brownlee and Deputy Chairman Shane Jones, as well as Members of Parliament from both major parties who joined the Friendship Group in recognition of the importance of New Zealand's relationship with the United States.  

Mr. Bolger said that the Friendship Group provided a useful counterpart to the Friends of New Zealand Congressional Caucus in Washington DC. "Making progress on global issues New Zealanders care deeply about requires engagement with the world's leading super power and largest consumer market. That engagement is assisted when our political leaders express bipartisan support for closer co-operation. It doesn't mean we have to agree with the United States about everything. It does mean we see value in the relationship for our national interests."

In addition, Mr Bolger pointed out the continuing strength of the relationship between the United States and New Zealand recently.  "At the inaugural NZ US Partnership Forum in Washington last April it was evident that both governments saw value in improving the relationship and we are delighted to see the progress now being made.  The launch of the Parliamentary Friendship Group provides another useful strand in the relationship”.  

Mr. Brownlee and Mr. Jones visited the US in the summer of 2007 and met with Caucus members on the Hill. 

Click to see letters that Caucus co-chairs Jim Kolbe and Ellen Tauscher wrote to NZ-US Parliamentary Friendship Group chair MP Gerry Brownlee, which were read at the launch reception by Council President John Mullen.