United States Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano arrives in New Zealand today for a two-day visit.
Ms Napolitano will meet Prime Minister John Key and other ministers during her visit to Wellington.
Justice Minister Judith Collins said the visit was another "significant step forward in the warm relationship" between the two countries.
This is the Secretary's first visit to New Zealand, after a planned trip last year was cancelled.
She had been due to visit Christchurch for the NZ-US Partnership Forum in February 2011.