By: Barry Soper | Monday, September 24, 2012 6:00 AM

For a blip on the radar screen God's Own does have its fair share of big wigs making the trek down under.

The American defense head honcho Leon Panetta finished his whistle stop trip down here and over the weekend had lunch with State Homie John Key, who was fresh back from being a big wig himself on the Chatham Islands.

Uncle Sam's waving the stars and stripes big time, telling us our warships are now allowed in their ports. It'll mean that we'll no longer be snubbed like we were recently in Hawaii where our frigates were sent packing to a commercial docking space while more than 20 other countries, including Japan who knows Pearl Harbour well, berthed in the naval dock.

But the big question is, will we allow their warships into our harbours? The answer is no. Our anti nuclear legislation won't allow it because many of their vessels are still nuclear armed.

The Americans are turning on the charm offensive though because they're worried about the increasing influence of China in this part of the world.

And the other big wigs who'll be gracing our shores shortly will be Prince Chuck and his missus Lady Camilla Parker Bowles who's on her first visit to these fair shores. There won't be quite the same adoration shown to her that there was to his first wife Lady Di but at least the frenzied paparazzi won't be pointing their 800 metre lenses at Government House where there'll be a birthday bash.

Both the Guv Gen Jerry Mataparae and Chuck will be celebrating their respective birthdays on November 14, the Guv will be 58 while Chuck turns the magical age of 64.

Kiwis who celebrate their birthdays on the same day are being invited to the party, their names will go into a ballot, the lucky ones will go to the knees up.

No doubt they'll skip the light fantastic to that old Beatles Sergeant Peppers' song, will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm 64!

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