US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says the US has possibly taken unprecedented levels of action on greenhouse gas without "heavy handed relations".
This was Tillerson's reply, when asked about the nation's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, during a visit to Wellington on Tuesday.
He wrapped up meetings with Prime Minister Bill English and Foreign Minister Gerry Brownlee with a press conference where he addressed concerns about Friday's withdrawal.
Tillerson said there was no reason to believe the US would stop taking action on climate change and defended Trump's decision, saying it was considered and in the best interest of the American people.
He nodded as English told reporters he had made New Zealand's disagreement of the withdrawal decision clear.
Meanwhile, asked about Trump's unpredictability on Twitter, Tillerson said he did not intend to advise Trump on such matters.
"The President has his own unique way of communication with the American people and the world."
Tillerson, who is in the country for just two hours, was greeted by a powhiri at Premier House
Standing alongside Brownlee, he was given a hongi by two Maori leaders, before accepting a wero, or challenge.
Powhiri for Secretary of State Rex Tillerson at Premier House pic.twitter.com/bK6LvRvjlY
— Claire Trevett (@CTrevettNZH) June 6, 2017
Labour leader Andrew Little said he had a firm message for Tillerson when he met with him.
Little said he raised the idiosyncratic messages on foreign policy coming from President Trump, including the withdrawal from the Paris accord on climate change.
He said Trump's latest attack on the Mayor of London is another example of the President putting his foot in his mouth.
Little said we've seen yet again the clumsy, ham-fisted way that President Trump goes about expressing his views and its odd that his staff haven't confiscated his cell phone to get him off Twitter.
Meanwhile, protests over climate change continued in Wellington today after Greenpeace members scaled a crane near parliament.
A few hundred people braved the rain outside Parliament. Their signs read 'Liar, Liar', 'There's no planet B', and 'Denial is not a policy'.
Climate change protesters braving the weather at Parliament. I note the police are photographing them pic.twitter.com/tPBkEBGvJn
— Felix Marwick (@felixmarwick) June 6, 2017
The protest, led by 350 Aotearoa, was timed for Rex Tillerson's visit.
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