Kōrero: Foreign policy and diplomatic representation

New Zealand's ambassador to the US, George Laking (right), hands a leg of prime New Zealand lamb to US Vice-President Hubert Humphrey in 1966. Laking served as ambassador from 1961 to 1967, when the US was considered the most important overseas posting. It was evident that Britain would soon join the European Economic Community, and New Zealand was seeking new markets for major exports such as frozen lamb.