Those words, spoken by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, emphasised the focus on the family relationship between New Zealand and Australia that dominated the first day of his transtasman visit.
Mr Morrison and his wife Jenny jetted into Queenstown yesterday for a whirlwind trip to meet New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
They touched down after a week of uncertainty over whether the trip would go ahead, following a Covid-19 outbreak in Melbourne.
Mr Morrison had been in the Greater Melbourne area on May 20, and he and his entourage were required to return negative tests before arriving in New Zealand.
But arrive they did, and they were welcomed in style with a powhiri at The Rees Hotel.
Addressing the Australian delegation, Ngai Tahu kaumatua Edward Ellison acknowledged the close relationship between the two countries, noting the number of Kiwis living across the Tasman.
He also acknowledged how much New Zealanders enjoyed beating the Aussies in sporting contests — perhaps a prescient point as the Highlanders claimed victory over the Melbourne Rebels in Sydney shortly afterwards.
Following the powhiri, Mr Morrison and Ms Ardern headed to one of Queenstown's most popular tourist attractions, Skyline.
After sharing a gondola to the top, the pair mingled with local dignitaries and business leaders at a welcoming reception in front of the snowy backdrop of The Remarkables.
In their opening remarks, both prime ministers spoke warmly of the relationship between the two countries, referring repeatedly to family.
The pair also emphasised the strength of the shared transtasman Covid-19 response, with Ms Ardern joking that at one stage, she had more contact with Mr Morrison than her own mother.
Mr Morrison said the approach taken by the two countries had "saved lives, and saved livelihoods".
Mr Morrison also reflected on his previous experiences with Ngai Tahu and how they shaped the way he worked with indigenous communities in Australia.
There were also lighter moments, such as Mr Morrison’s reference to the "Fergburger index"— using the length of lines at the popular Queenstown burger joint to determine the strength of the tourism industry.
The two-day visit is the first time the leaders have met in person since early 2020, following the spread of Covid-19 last year.
Today, the focus will turn to tougher issues as the pair meet for their annual formal talks.
There has been speculation the relationship between the two countries has been more tense than in the past, which the leaders are expected to address today.
Thorny topics such as deportations from Australia, and the increasingly fraught issue of relations with China, are likely to dominate discussions.
In a veiled reference to the high-profile differences, Ms Ardern acknowledged "we won’t always see every issue in the same way".
But, she said, in the increasingly complex geo-strategic environment, "family is incredibly important, and Australia, you are our family".
