WELLINGTON, New Zealand >> A New Zealand military ship will visit a U.S. port next year for the first time in nearly three decades and the two countries will resume high-level military talks.

The announcement today in Washington by U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and his New Zealand counterpart Jonathan Coleman was the latest sign of increased military cooperation between the countries.

A rift occurred in 1984 when New Zealand banned nuclear ships from its shores, a move the U.S. opposed.

Relations have improved in recent years after New Zealand sent troops to Afghanistan and the U.S. attempted to focus more on the Pacific.

Hagel authorized the New Zealand navy to dock next year at Pearl Harbor. The two countries also said they’d expand peacekeeping efforts in the Asia-Pacific region.