NEW ZEALAND – What does the Trump win mean for New Zealand’s relationship with the US, and how will one of the dirtiest campaigns in recent history influence our own election next year?

Here’s what the New Zealand politicians, experts and commentators are saying:

Prime Minister John Key has already congratulated Trump on his victory in the US election.

“The American people have spoken and I congratulate Mr Trump on his victory after a long campaign,” Key said on Wednesday morning.

“I will be writing to Mr Trump to offer my personal congratulations shortly.

“Our two countries share a strong relationship and I look forward to that continuing. Over the coming months we will be looking to build close ties with the incoming Trump Administration.”

The prime minister also paid tribute to the outgoing Administration led by President Barack Obama.

“I have had a close and constructive relationship with President Obama and I wish him all the best for his future,” he said.

Labour leader Andrew Little commented: “The relationship with USA goes beyond any individual in the office. We certainly welcome a constructive relationship with the new president. It’s too early to tell exactly what impact this will mean for New Zealand.

“The polls obviously were saying something else so it’s important we understand what it means in terms of the sense of disenfranchisement and dissatisfaction there is in the American electorate.”

Green Party co-leader James Shaw said: “I couldn’t think of a worse President.”

“Trump has demonstrated he’s a pathological liar so regardless of what he said during the election campaign we don’t know what he’ll do”.

Working with him if the Greens are part of a future government will be “very difficult”, Shaw said.

Jim Bolger, former Prime Minister and former Ambassador to the US said New Zealaners would have to expect a “different world economy” under a Trump presidency.

“New Zealand is so dependent on international trade that anything a Trump presidency did to slow world trade would have an impact on New Zealand.”

The Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement will be “dead on arrival” under Trump, he said.

Winston Peters, NZ First leader and former Foreign Ministe said: “This is a battle between the elitists who have gouged out middle America, who have ignored the middle class who pay the tax and do the work and all the hard working people around America who have been shut out and forgotten and neglected whilst they all went down to Washington to conspire against their interests.

“And these people, like the British, have come out and said we’ve had enough.”

“If politicians don’t ask what has happened in the US – then there will be no progress in New Zealand either.”

ACT leader David Seymoursaid: “I’m not surprised, because I sensed what was going on and when you’ve been through a few election campaigns, you get a feeling for these things.

“If you look at the fundamentals, you’ve just got so many promises made by the US political class that haven’t come true just fundamentally hasn’t been a very fair place for a long time, and basically people have got sick of waiting for politicians to deliver.

“It’s very worrying when we’re a small, open trading nation and the American people have effectively voted against free trade – that’s hugely concerning.

“This result will certainly concern many New Zealanders, but American democracy reflects the will of American voters. This result should be respected, and ACT offers its congratulations to president-elect Trump.”

US Ambassador to New Zealand Mark Gilbert said: “I would say that from our perspective the lack of policy discussion probably was a little disappointing.”

Labour foreign affairs spokesman David Shearer said: “I am surprised in the sense the polls were telling us something different. It’s like Brexit – the polls can’t be trusted.

“In terms of New Zealand we’ll work with anyone – Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State means we’ve had dealings with her and she’s a bit more of a known quantity.

“Trump is much less certain on foreign affairs and hasn’t really set down any comprehensive policy.”

Julie Anne Genter, a Green supporter says “It’s pretty terrifying. This is really a reflection of what happens when you have decades of policy that increases inequality and disintegrates trust in government leaders in the community.

“I don’t think it will have much bearing on the situation in New Zealand because we’re a very small democracy, and we’re one where there is still a high degree of participation.

“I’m just feeling a sense of black humour at it all, and a sense that I was possibly right when I decided to leave the country in 2002 because I did have the sense it was headed in a pretty dangerous direction.”

Former US intelligence adviser Paul Buchanan said: “We’re trying to explain to my three-year-old how bad people can win, and it’s very hard.

“This is a man who has been endorsed by the KKK, he’s been endorsed by several neo-Nazi organisations, anti-Semitic organisations, to say nothing of people who hate Muslims.

“I have two grown children and a grandchild in the United States, and quite frankly I fear for them over the short term, because they are people who are fair-minded and open-minded, and apparently those type of folk are going to lose tonight.

“We have in New Zealand pockets of society that do not see Maori as deserving of equal rights, who have certain views that are akin to those of the Trump supporters, and this will embolden them and embolden politicians who want to tap into that sentiment to gain electoral advantage, and we don’t need that here.”

National Party pollster David Farrar said: “What’s amazing when you look at the exit polls right now, it’s not actually been so much black vs white, men vs women, it’s college-educated vs non college-educated.

“Non-college whites have voted like minority groups normally do, which is overwhelmingly one way, but this is a minority group worth 40 per cent of the population.

“It’s pretty amazing though just to see, people had such a clear choice, two such different candidates, and they’ve taken control of their country.

“We might not approve of it, but it may actually restore a bit of faith in America that things aren’t all predetermined.”

Trade expert Charles Finny said: “I’ve been saying, don’t write Trump off, and we’re going to have to make it work.

“Obviously Trump is a less ideal outcome on the trade policy front, than a President Clinton would be.

“But you never know, he still talks about doing ‘good deals’.”

- Stuff