The meetings in Auckland follow a one day visit by Admiral William Fallon, head of the US Pacific command, to Antarctica on Thursday.

A spokesman for Goff said regional security and defence issues would be discussed, possibly including the recent political instability in Fiji.

Fallon will also meet senior defence force staff on his first visit to New Zealand since taking up the Pacific command in February last year.

Dr Paul Buchanan, senior lecturer in political studies at Auckland University, told the New Zealand Herald that Fallon's visit showed the two countries maintained military ties despite their disagreement over New Zealand's nuclear-free policy.

"This yet again shows that regardless of the diplomatic posturing over New Zealand's anti-nuclear stance, we continue to be visited and have a close working relationship with the US defence department."

New Zealand's ban on nuclear-armed or powered ships from 1984 resulted in it leaving the three-way military alliance involving the two countries and Australia.

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