Latest news with #AustraliaNewZealandLeaders'Meeting
1News
3 days ago
- Business
- 1News
Luxon and Albanese discuss 'geopolitical tensions' during annual talk
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Queenstown this afternoon at the annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders' Meeting. The two leaders have spoken about "geopolitical tensions, issues of trade and economic relationships, and conflict in the world," Albanese said. Albanese — accompanied with his fiancée Jodie Haydon — was welcomed with a pōwhiri by Ngāi Tahu, which he thanked as "warm" and "generous". He said it was his third visit to New Zealand as Prime Minister but had been "many more times than that" over "many, many years". Saying the last time he was in Queenstown, he came with a backpack on "to this extraordinary, beautiful part" of not just New Zealand, but the world. ADVERTISEMENT Economic challenges, security and defence, and regional and global issues were on the agenda for the two leaders. (Source: 1News) Albanese agreed with Luxon "about the uncertain world that we're in, and there's no question that that is the case". "There is one thing that's certain, that is Australia and New Zealand stand together." He said the two countries have a "seamless economic relationship" between "our family, the Pacific Island family". New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon welcoming Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the annual Australia New Zealand Leaders' Meeting in Queenstown. (Source: 1News) Luxon has said Australia is our only ally and a vital economic partner, "with two-way trade of $32 billion, I look forward to discussing what more we can do as we tackle economic challenges on both sides of the Tasman". Albanese said he hoped "this is the first of many very successful meetings that will happen here to advance the interests of New Zealanders here domestically, but also in international forums as well." ADVERTISEMENT Luxon later said in a statement that he "valued the discussion about our respective economic plans. The crossover between New Zealand's Going for Growth agenda and Australia's productivity agenda provides plenty of cooperation opportunities". Luxon answers questions on Gaza and China Luxon and Albanese both agreed that they wanted to see a ceasefire in Gaza and a two-state solution when asked about the ongoing conflict with Israel. When asked if Australia would recognise Gaza as a state Albanese responded, "it's a matter of when not if". He said Australians "want to see a ceasefire, they want the killing to stop they want to see the hostages released and they want to see peace in the region". Luxon agreed, saying the military action and lack of humanitarian aid "violates humanitarian law". "The military action we've seen in not the answer... it comes through diplomacy and dialogue." ADVERTISEMENT "That's why you've seen both of our foreign ministers sign a statement today... to make that very clear". Luxon also spoke about both countries "successful visits" to China recently which is a "significant player in the world and a prominent feature in global affairs". "We have an approach of co-operating where we can agree and disagree where we must. "We have different systems, different values and we'll stand up for those at different times, but partners talk about the difficult stuff and talk the differences too, that was the nature of my conversations with the Chinese leadership."
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Warm welcome for Aussie delegation in Queenstown
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has welcomed his Australian counterpart in Queenstown for annual talks between the leaders. Mr Luxon is hosting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, along with his fiancee Jodie Haydon, in the South lsland resort today and tomorrow for the Australia New Zealand Leaders' Meeting. It is the first time the meeting has been held in Queenstown since 2021, when former prime ministers Scott Morrison and Dame Jacinda Ardern had a tightly controlled and scheduled meeting, primarily due to Covid-19 restrictions. Mr Luxon thanked Mr Albanese and others in the delegation for their visit, saying: "You are indeed special and great friends. In fact, you are not just friends - you are whanau, you are family." "The world seems really uncertain and fractious and we have no greater friend than Australia. And as a result, the two of us being able to come together to advocate for our values ... and to go out into the world together is really important." Mr Albanese was also welcomed to Queenstown by Ngai Tahu representatives including Sir Tipene O'Regan and Te Rūnaka o Ōtākou upoko Edward Ellison. Bilateral talks were being held this afternoon. Other engagements include a business roundtable with the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum. It is the second time across the Tasman for Mr Albanese, who last visited in 2023 to meet with then-Labour prime minister Chris Hipkins. Mr Albanese and Mr Luxon represent opposite ends of the political spectrum, but both have affirmed their nations share a "deep and enduring bond" as friends, neighbours and allies. Defence, economic partnerships and security will be on the agenda, AAP reports. "I look forward to discussing how we can work together to build on our single economic market, modernise the rules-based trading system, deepen our alliance, and back our Pacific partners," Mr Albanese said. The single economic market was established in 2009 to grow trade and deepen investment links between the two countries, making it easier for trans-Tasman business. Two-way trade between the two countries is worth $NZ35 billion. Co-operation between the two governments is broad, with more than half of the New Zealand Cabinet visiting Australia since Mr Luxon's government took office in late 2023. - Allied Media and AAP
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Australian PM welcomed in Queenstown
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has welcomed his Australian counterpart in Queenstown for annual talks between the leaders. Mr Luxon is hosting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, along with his fiancee Jodie Haydon, in the South lsland resort today and tomorrow for the Australia New Zealand Leaders' Meeting. Christopher Luxon (left) and Anthony Albanese greet Sir Tipene O'Regan during a powhiri this afternoon. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES It is the first time it has been held in Queenstown since 2021, when former prime ministers Scott Morrison and Dame Jacinda Ardern had a tightly controlled and scheduled meeting, primarily due to Covid-19 restrictions. Mr Albanese was welcomed to Queenstown by Ngai Tahu representatives including Sir Tipene O'Regan, at a powhiri, Bilateral talks would be held in the afternoon. Other engagements include a business roundtable with the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum. - Allied Media
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Queenstown meeting of Luxon, Albanese trumpeted
All eyes will be on Queenstown this weekend. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will host Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, along with his fiancee Jodie Haydon, in the resort tomorrow and Sunday for the annual Australia New Zealand Leaders' Meeting. It is the first time the meeting has been held in Queenstown since 2021, when former prime ministers Scott Morrison and Dame Jacinda Ardern had a tightly controlled and scheduled meeting, primarily due to Covid restrictions. Queenstown Lakes Mayor Glyn Lewers said it was "brilliant" the leaders were meeting in the resort, and considered they could not pick a better spot to "show off New Zealand Inc to our Australian cousins". Mr Lewers would be spending some time with the prime ministers, including being part of Mr Albanese's greeting party. He would later be welcomed to Queenstown by Ngai Tahu at a powhiri, following which there would be bilateral talks. Other engagements include a business roundtable with the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum. A large media contingent from across the Tasman was expected to cover the visit, while some outlets were planning on doing other Queenstown-specific stories while in town. Mr Lewers said there were stories to be told, particularly around tourism and growth pressures, "and I'm open to talking with them about it". Destination Queenstown and Lake Wanaka Tourism chief executive Mat Woods said the meeting was "a really big deal", and hoped the media coverage further bolstered the resort's reputation across the Tasman. "Australia is our most important international market — it's a market that we've been working hard on for 40-plus years — Australians love Queenstown, Queenstown loves Australians, community and industry alike. "We just get that great opportunity to showcase Queenstown and build on all that work we've been doing ... to show what a great destination we are for Aussies to visit." Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce chief executive Sharon Fifield said given what was happening around the world at present, it was good to see the two leaders continuing to strengthen their relationship. In a statement, Mr Luxon said one certainty in an otherwise uncertain work was the Australia-New Zealand relationship was the "bedrock as we look out into the world". "Australia is our only formal ally and a vital economic partner. "With a two-way trade of $32 billion, I look forward to discussing what more we can do as we tackle economic challenges on both sides of the Tasman."
Scoop
6 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
PM To Host Anthony Albanese In Queenstown
Rt Hon Christopher Luxon Prime Minister Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will host Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for the annual Australia New Zealand Leaders' Meeting in Queenstown later this week. 'I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Albanese and his fiancée Jodie Haydon to a beautiful part of New Zealand,' Mr Luxon says. 'In today's uncertain world, one certainty is that the Australia-New Zealand relationship is the bedrock as we look out into the world. 'Australia is our only ally and a vital economic partner. With two-way trade of $32 billion, I look forward to discussing what more we can do as we tackle economic challenges on both sides of the Tasman.' Prime Minister Albanese will be welcomed to Queenstown by Ngāi Tahu at a pōwhiri followed by bilateral talks. Other engagements include a business roundtable with the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum and showcasing Central Otago's beauty. Prime Minister Albanese arrives in Queenstown on Saturday 9 August and departs on Sunday 10 August.
