Labour Party leader Phil Goff says the new United States President, Barack Obama, faces huge challenges.
At a time of serious global economic and political difficulties, Mr Goff says the Obama Administration has generated hope of new approaches and fresh ideas.
He says the international community will be looking to the United States, as the world's most powerful economy, to help remedy the causes of financial failure and to generate international recovery.
Mr Goff says small economies like New Zealand will hope the new administration resists protectionist pressure, which in the 1930's, turned an American depression into a world-wide one.
Prime Minister John Key has written to the new president, congratulating him on his inauguration.
Mr Key says Mr Obama's leadership will be crucial in moving key issues forward.
