Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has told US Senators that change in America's gun control laws is possible if it is backed by the will of the people.
See what she had to say here:
Ardern spoke to New Zealand media after a morning spent meeting with US senators, including Democrat Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff, Independent Senator Angus King, Republican Mitt Romney, along with Representative Rick Larsen.
At her meeting with Ossoff, Ardern said believed change was possible, even on the most difficult of political issues, when there was a will among people.
Ossoff is among those again calling for reform after yesterday's massacre at a Texas school, in which 19 children and two teachers were killed. He praised changes New Zealand made after the Christchurch mosque massacre.
Asked by media what common ground Ardern had with Romney, who has accepted $20m in payments from the US gun lobby group the NRA, she said she was happy to answer the different representatives' questions about New Zealand's experience.
"New Zealand has had an experience on March 15, a horrific terrorist attack. Here in the United States we have seen the evidence of mass shootings and the impact that has had.
"Today I was here not to do anything more than share the experience New Zealand has had, our own reform and the role it's played - and we hope providing greater protection going forward."
Ardern told media discussions with US lawmakers also covered regional issues, the role of China in the region, US engagement with China and the war in Ukraine.
Jacinda Ardern meets a bipartisan group of senators, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, third left, and Senator Amy Klobuchar (Democrat-Minnesota in Washington, DC, on May 25, 2022. Photo: AFP
Ardern said she shared with the senators that if the United States was looking to engage with our region economically, the CPTPP was the gold standard.
"Varying perspectives on that issue, there does still remain some support amongst those I spoke to, around that being ultimately the best place to engage."
To have greater resilience in our region, we need greater trading partners and opportunities, she said.
Work on a White House meeting with US President Joe Biden was still being coordinated, Ardern said.
"Obviously there's a lot going on in the US system right now, but I hope that we will be able to update you shortly."
Trade Minister Damien O'Connor, Senator Angus King (Independent-Maine), Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and US Senator Jon Ossoff (Democrat-Georgia) meet in Washington DC. Photo: RNZ / Jane Patterson
Speaking on China's discussions of defence and intelligence in the Pacific, Ardern said China was looking to draw in a wide membership.
"From New Zealand's perspective, we see it as incredibly important that the response to it and those discussions actually come from within the Pacific as well."
The Pacific Island Forum leaders meeting would be incredibly important as an opportunity for the Pacific to canvas its view on the increasing presence of China, Ardern said.
She said it was not for New Zealand to speak on behalf of other Pacific nations.
Within the Pacific New Zealand has the means to response to any security challenges, she said. "And New Zealand is willing to do that."
In New York yesterday, Ardern spoke on gun control on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert after meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Tomorrow (Thursday US time) she is expected to give the Harvard Commencement address, ending the university's year for the class of 2022.