Kerry and Lugar met with the PM of New Zealand yesterday

[karynnj]

The two senior Democrat and Republican Senators that Prime Minister John Key had been due to meet today pulled out because of the debt ceiling crisis.

Senator John Kerry, the chairman of the foreign relations committee and Republican Senator Richard Lugar stood in for them and greeted Mr Key who had been in meetings all morning.

<skip>
Chatting to reporters before Mr Key's arrival, Senator Kerry said he had visited New Zealand last year as a tourist on a camper van holiday with one of his stepsons and loved it, especially swimming with dolphins.

Senator Kerry is also due to take Mr Key onto the floor of the Senate later today to meet senior senators.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10740114

Here is Kerry introducing him in the Senate yesterday - http://www.c-spanvideo.org/videoLibrary/clip.php?appid=600285130

Kerry returned to speak on Cut, cap and balance - First part - http://www.c-spanvideo.org/videoLibrary/clip.php?appid=600286034 (then Reid came in with remarks and Kerry finished) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/videoLibrary/clip.php?appid=600286146