“We could stage a basketball game on the flight deck. You need to see these things and realise it’s not some sort of bogeyman that you have to worry about,” Novelly said.
“I’d really like the opportunity to work with New Zealand on that exact topic.”
The Herald asked what that actually looked like, and whether he was suggesting New Zealand allowed ships with nuclear propulsion or weapons into our waters, and if he was wanting a discussion with the Government about it.
“We’re friends and I don’t know about you, but I don’t like even my friends to just pop by and knock on the door, you wanna invite them, so it requires an invite from New Zealand,” Novelly said.
“That’s New Zealand law. I don’t change New Zealand law. I don’t write New Zealand law. It’s up to you to invite us, but I’d love to see it. I think everybody else would too. I think it would be a generational event as much as the 19, whatever it was, 1980, what year was it?”
Novelly did say he understood the nuclear-free policy of New Zealand, saying it was the first thing he was briefed on and it was “not my fight”.
“It’s up to you. I’m not here to change your mind. I’m here to respect your opinions.”
US Ambassador Jared Novelly and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters. Photo / Jamie Ensor
Under Section 11 of the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act 1987, entry into the internal waters of New Zealand by any ship whose propulsion is wholly or partly dependent on nuclear power is prohibited.
The New Zealand Government, as recently as last month, has said it will not be changing the country’s nuclear-free policy.
“I’m really proud of our nuclear-free position and it ain’t changing while I’m prime minister – period,” Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said.
The issue of US ships coming into New Zealand waters became a focal point in the 1980s, including when the Government of the time refused the USS Buchanan entry because the US would neither confirm nor deny the ship had nuclear capability.
Novelly made his first major speech as US Ambassador last night at a party celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States’ declaration of independence.
Speaking at Wellington’s Tākina convention centre, Novelly began by admitting to the audience that “speaking is not necessarily coming naturally to me”. He joked that if he continuously messed up, “you can throw rotten tomatoes or something … kiwis?”
Novelly rarely stumbled in his speech though, the focus of which was unsurprisingly not on the geopolitical situation of today or the US’ current foreign policy, but instead the relationship between the US and New Zealand over time.
The ambassador said the two countries have “always been about showing up for one another”.
He gave examples, including a Wellington family taking a US marine into their home in 1942 to give him warmth and apple pie, as the Marine forces travelled to an “uncertain future” in the Pacific mid-World War II.
Another was of New Zealanders leaving flowers at the gates of the US Embassy after the 9/11 attacks.
“No cameras, no ceremony, no expectation of being seen. Just a simple message – ‘we’re with you’,” Novelly said.
He highlighted how “generations of Kiwis grew up with American movies and music”, while describing fast-food chain McDonald’s – “I’m fairly certain you guys says Maccas” – as potentially the US’ “most successful form of soft power”.
The speech briefly mentioned areas of future cooperation, with Novelly saying one priority was “strengthening our shared security”.
“New Zealand’s recent steps in this area reflect a commitment that we value, and we’ll keep working together to support stability and peace in our region,” he said.
Others include cooperating on critical minerals, aerospace and emerging technology, and sports diplomacy.
New US Ambassador Jared Novelly speaking in Wellington. Photo / Jamie Ensor
Novelly was followed by a speech from New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters, who spent most of his time discussing US history and what can be learned from the US founders.
“The expansive ambition and competitive energy that has driven the United States and its people has been a singular force in shaping global history,” Peters said.
“We pray that the lessons of your history will inform the challenges and choices you face in the future and that America’s future is as enduring as its past.
“Yet that future carries forward the character of its founders, the wisdom of Benjamin Franklin, the idealism of Thomas Jefferson, and the leadership of the polities of George Washington, then that future is assured.”
One area of note in Peters’ speech was him mentioning how over time the US extended westwards toward the Pacific Ocean.
“Firmly cementing the United States as a Pacific nation, something we need to remind you of from time to time.”
The event was part-celebration, part-trade show, with various businesses and groups exhibiting their goods and brands. Sponsors for the event ranged from Meta to Lockheed Martin to Rocket Lab.
Cheeseburgers from McDonald’s were handed out to attendees, who also had an opportunity to get photos with the DeLorean similar to that from the Back to the Future film franchises, as well as motorcycles and other cars.
Novelly isn’t a career politician or diplomat, but rather best-known for owning the Illawarra Hawks – a basketball team that competes in the National Basketball League in Australia – through the Crest Sports and Entertainment group. He was also a director of the Apex Oil Corporation.
Originally from St Louis, Missouri, he holds a Masters of Property Development from the University of Technology Sydney and a BA from Saint Louis University.
Novelly’s journey to becoming ambassador has been a long one, with his nomination languishing in the American political system since early 2025 when he was first picked by US President Donald Trump.
He had to be renominated in January and only went before senators for his confirmation hearing in March.
As the Herald reported in January, the period between Novelly being nominated and arriving in post appears to be longer than other recent US Ambassadors, such as Tom Udall and Scott Brown.
During his confirmation hearing in the Senate in March, Novelly said a priority of his in Wellington would be “expanding our defence partnership”, highlighting that New Zealanders were more aware than most of the “darkening security environment in the Pacific”, which he in part attributed to China.
Novelly said he would work “tirelessly to advance President Trump’s and Secretary [Marco] Rubio’s foreign policies”.
“In advancing the President’s agenda, we have few better partners than New Zealand. The Government of New Zealand consistently supports our goals in the region and beyond,” Novelly said.
While it may have taken some time to get here, since arriving in Wellington, Novelly has taken a cracking pace.
On Wednesday afternoon, he presented his credentials to Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro, followed by meetings with Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Speaker Gerry Brownlee on Thursday.
His first major engagement was last night when he hosted politicians, members of the diplomatic corp, businesspeople and media at Wellington’s Tākina convention centre for the event to celebrate the US’ 250th anniversary.
Novelly has also been confirmed as the US Ambassador to Samoa, the Cook Islands and Niue, and is expected to travel to each shortly to present his credentials.
Jamie Ensor is the NZ Herald’s chief political reporter, based in the press gallery at Parliament. He was previously a TV reporter and digital producer in the Newshub press gallery office. He was a finalist in 2025 for Political Journalist of the Year at the Voyager Media Awards.