Hillary Clinton arrives in New Zealand

Hillary Clinton is introduced to Mayor of Wellington Celia Wade-Brown. Photo / Getty Images

United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Wellington soon after dawn this morning amid heavy security.

Mrs Clinton arrived at the military terminal of the city's airport just after 6am. Her white and blue plane was hard to miss with "United States of America" emblazoned along the side.

Security officers were the first arrive at the plane after it taxied to the military terminal.

They were followed closely by Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully, Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown, New Zealand ambassador to Washington Mike Moore, and American ambassador David Huebner, who greeted Mrs Clinton as she alighted the plane.

For many of those waiting for Mrs Clinton's arrival it had been an early and chilly start to the day.

Several police officers and security officials had been at the airport since 2am, ensuring everything was ready.

That included scanning the runway, looking under every vehicle in the convoy and playing musical chairs with the vehicles to get the motorcade in order.

Police sniffer dogs checked the news media and their gear as they arrived at 4.30am.

It was cold and blustery as Mrs Clinton stepped off the plane.

She shook hands with her welcome party before hurrying into the warmth of the terminal.

She left about the airport 6.30am in a black BMW - part of a 14-vehicle convoy headed for town.

Her first official function will be a powhiri and welcoming ceremony on Parliament's forecourt this afternoon.

Mrs Clinton is in New Zealand as part of her two week 10-day tour of the Asia Pacific region, which saw her flying overnight to Wellington from Papua New Guinea.

She will meet today with Prime Minister John Key and other government ministers for top level talks before being guest of honour at a BBQ hosted by Mr Key in Wellington tonight.

She will fly to Christchurch tomorrow to attend two American embassy events and visit American troops stationed at US Antarctic Programme Centre.

- NZPA