US Secretary of Defence Leon Pannetta arrives in New Zealand next week, the first time in 30 years New Zealand has hosted to America's most senior defence official.
Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman says the visit reflects the warm relationship between New Zealand and the United States.
The invitation was extended at the signing of the Washington Declaration by Dr Coleman and Mr Panetta in June.
During his visit, Mr Panetta will lay a wreath at the WWII Hall of Memories in Auckland to commemorate the sacrifices made by New Zealanders in that war and more recently in Afghanistan.
