KEY POINTS:
Prime Minister Helen Clark talked with new British Prime Minister Gordon Brown for about 30 minutes on Thursday night and offered New Zealand's support in dealing with strife in Britain, marked by attempted terrorist attacks during his first week in office.
"I obviously commiserated that his first week had been the subject of attack," she said. She believed the timing was quite deliberate.
She described Mr Brown as "a deep thinker" who has been exploring the unifying values of being British. He was interested in New Zealand's experience and its work on interfaith and intercultural issues.
"I said to him we live in quite a complex multicultural society which - touch wood - does function with a high degree of inclusion and a reasonably good degree of tolerance.
"We feel New Zealand has been in a good position to be promoting discussion and dialogue on faith and cultural boundaries.
"He said the Cold War wasn't won by military means in the end. It was a hearts-and-minds [victory]. So he was very attuned to that and keen to discuss that."
Helen Clark has met Mr Brown at least three times since she has been Prime Minister, and he hosted a dinner for her at No 11 Downing St, his former home, about 18 months ago.
She expects to meet him in London in early October on her way to the commemorations for the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele.
She said the pair also talked about trade and investment, and sustainability issues.
