KEY POINTS:
It has been confirmed that United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will visit New Zealand next week.
She will also have a brief stop in Apia, Samoa, to meet Pacific Islands leaders.
The visit was confirmed by her spokesman today.
Before arriving in New Zealand at the end of the week she will visit Perth in Western Australia, the home state of Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith.
The visit will occur after the Asean Regional Forum in Singapore on July 23 and 24 at which Foreign Minister Winston Peters will be present for New Zealand.
Dr Rice is expected in New Zealand on July 26.
