>>2274995 (lb)
Mostly well known, but for the record…
Trump has a NZ born (US citizen) on his staff.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Liddell
(policy).
NZ still partially suspended from ANZUS
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ANZUS
US operates in NZ dependency in Antarctica, and is the gateway for US operations there.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMurdo_Station
ECHELON Intercepts are out done out of Waihopai Station (hi!)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waihopai_Station
Omega station supposed to be decommissioned ("navigation" for US submarines)
https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Salient31151968-t1-body-d43-d4.html
OMEGA was also said to be communicatons for the subs by Bruce Cathie (sauce is a book which I can't put my hands on anon), RLF comms (my acronym, ridiculously low frequency).
So there are many good reasons for close US NZ relations. US culture very prevalent in NZ since WWII.