The United States yesterday thanked New Zealand for its "strong and unambiguous stand" against the Bahsar al-Assad regime having used chemical weapons against the people of Syria.

The landmark conviction of former Guatemalan dictator General Efrain Rios Montt of genocide and crimes against humanity and United States backing for the scorched earth campaign, was a grim reminder of bloody footprints left by Washington.

When Prime Minister John Key lands in Mexico tomorrow it will have been more than a decade since the last New Zealand prime minister toured Latin America, and he concedes the region has been neglected in favour of Asian economies.

As John Key wraps up an important Burma visit, he talks to Herald Political Editor Audrey Young about what he's learned and seen.

In a key shift, the United States is lifting a ban on New Zealand navy vessels visiting US ports, and will remove obstacles to defence talks and exercises.

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman says deepening military co-operation with the US won't endanger NZ's relationship with China, saying we can be friends with both major powers.

Aussies like Kiwis more than anyone else in the world, and we think they are a fair dinkum partner, but that's as far as it goes.

It was refreshing to find out this week that NZ was "an isolated island to the east of Australia".