New Zealand doesn't have an anti-US sentiment. And seriously people need to stop with this "historically X" nonsense. Diplomatic relations between countries can and do change on a dime.
It's only irrelevant if you capitulate that democracy has failed and is non-representative (ie. protests and other public action would not alter the outcome). While I am somewhat inclined to that perspective myself, it's important not to be completely defeatist, and I think New Zealand is doing relatively well in that department.