Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says top visiting US Navy Secretary Ray Mabus did not raise an invite for a US Navy vessel to visit for the Royal NZ Navy's 75th anniversary but he does expect the US to be represented in some way even if the ship visit is rejected.
Mr Brownlee met with US Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus in Wellington on Monday.
Mabus is in New Zealand for meetings with ministers and defence officials and said in a statement that while he expected the invite for the 75th celebrations in November to be discussed, it was not the reason for his visit and the US was yet to make a decision on it.
![President Barack Obama greets Navy Secretary Ray Mabus in the East Room of the White House in Washington, on Wednesday, April 27, 2016. Photo / AP](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/VJJDRQRMJBCKVFWCNPYTCHMGQ4.jpg?auth=1312e7c9753de9b61151405bf17d6360560c71d0ff050a9ba161b976a1a2d379&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
Mr Brownlee said that invite was not raised in his discussions. He had extended the invite in November 2014 and the US was still working through the process. "We would like them obviously to send a ship but if they are unable to get that through their process that's fine. We would still anticipate that they would have some form of representation at those celebrations."