Prime Minister Key and Entourage Roasting in Washington

If anyone thinks these official visits are fun, they are wrong. This one is especially taxing for Prime Minister Key, his staff, and traveling reporters.

The speeches and meetings with influential people are the easy parts - they usually take place in air conditioned rooms. But the other events, such as the wreath laying at the Arlington National Cemetery, are a test of endurance. The sun beats down, and the heat and humidity are relentless.

In addition to the heat, exhaustion is a real factor. The Prime Minister and the press arrived in Washington from California after 9 pm. The next day (Washington Thursday) the Prime Minister was up very early to give media interviews. Then he traveled the one block from the Blair House, across the park, to the Chamber of Commerce. There he gave a breakfast speech on the importance of increased trade, and then he answered questions.

It is fitting that I saw some of the benefits of NZ trade during a trip to my local supermarket. It has a special sale on two types of NZ apples, and Kiwi fruit. All were terrific, and the timing could not have been better.

In the meantime, the Prime Minister continued his meetings with a large variety of US officials, and then braved the heat for Arlington. What is that saying about Mad dogs and the Midday Sun? At night, there was a black tie dinner and knighthood ceremony at the NZ Embassy in Washington. More interviews were interspersed with activities.

Friday ((NZ Saturday) is the big day, with the meeting with President Obama. He is pretty exhausted too, and tired of the non-stop Budet battles. He also presides over a town hall meeting. Let's hope the President can stay awake, alert, and focused in his meeting with the Prime Minister. After all, the NZ side put a lot of effort into this visit.

Connie Lawn, at the White House, Washington DC.

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