Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she will be looking to "form a really strong relationship" with incoming US president Joe Biden, especially on trade and climate change.
On Saturday, the 77-year-old Democrat won the US presidential election following a drawn out vote counting process since Wednesday.
Biden will be sworn in as US president on January 21 (NZT) - replacing President Donald Trump, who's yet to concede defeat.
Ardern has already sent her well wishes Biden following the election victory, but this morning spoke to TVNZ1's Breakfast about what the new appointment means for New Zealand.
"Foreign policy is actually, ultimately when you boil it down, is all down to relationships - all of it," Ardern said.
"It's fair to say there is, I think, some advantage to the fact that Joe Biden as vice president visited New Zealand in 2016 and you can see from some of the images from that time that it actually was a visit that he probably holds some genuine affection.
"You can tell when people are moved by their connection to New Zealand and so that is undoubtedly helpful to us."
Ardern said trade had been difficult in recent times, but that it was in New Zealand's benefit for the US to engage with the World Trade Organization.
"Climate change - we need them back in the Paris Accord," she added.
"There are a number of issues where I think we need to really work together."
Kamala Harris will serve as vice president under Biden. She's the first woman, and woman of colour, to take up the role.
"I think every time we see a woman in leadership in politics you feel the balance just shift a little bit more, but for her she's shifted the balance immeasurably," Ardern said.
Yesterday Harris took the podium and spoke before Biden's victory speech.
"Just watching the face of some young girls in the crowd as she spoke, that really moved me," Ardern said.
"I hope there is a generation of American young women now that have the same effect on them that Helen Clark had on me when I was a young girl."
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