newzealandinc.com Informed. Influential. Indispensable.
After both an interesting and thought provoking first day of the Partnership Forum, the second and final session of the program began with an address from our Trade Minister Tim Groser. He set the stage for a day of discussion focused more towards the public sector with trade, security and foreign policy atop the agenda.
Two plenary sessions which incited some strong debate were followed with a town hall – an American term for an open and informal session led by Chief Executive of Foreign Affairs, John Allen. This unique final session proved to be a massive success with everybody from former-PM Jim Bolger to a number of future partners expressing a range of views that left plenty to be contemplated on the upcoming long flights home.
With the conclusion of the Partnership Forum, the part of the trip to DC that I’d been looking forward to most was upon us – Brierley and I were off to The White House. As business interns and young journalists, Anna Fifield had kindly arranged to take us inside the gate and show us around.
The visit was an absolutely incredible experience and certainly THE highlight of the trip. We had a wander around the grounds, before heading inside the West Wing.
We were also lucky enough to be invited to see John F. Kennedy’s private pool underneath the press section. The pool is no longer operational but all of the infrastructure remains. Tradition for visitors is to sign their names on the pool and become forever a part of US Political History which both Brierley and I were privileged enough to be invited to do.
Tomorrow we head for Los Angeles to conclude the programme in the US before we head back to New Zealand. Finally, before I jump off I’d just like to reiterate our thanks and sincere gratitude to Anna for arranging the visit for us.