Latest news with #AustraliaNewZealandLeadershipForum
Scoop
2 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
PM Luxon concludes successful Aus-NZ meeting
Rt Hon Christopher Luxon Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has met his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese today in Queenstown. 'It's an absolute pleasure to welcome my great mate Anthony to the jewel in the crown of New Zealand's scenic beauty. I'm looking forward to spending more time with him and Jodie, enjoying the best Queenstown has to offer. 'Prime Minister Albanese and I have just concluded an energetic set of talks where we traversed the full range of matters that are top of mind for two leaders that see the world in very similar ways. 'We discussed the shared challenges facing the New Zealand and Australian economies and the opportunities we have to work together. 'In particular, I 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,' Mr Luxon says. The two leaders announced a new partnership between New Zealand and Australia's national standards bodies. More harmonisation of standards will make trade even easier, bring down costs and support economic growth on both sides of the Tasman. The annual leaders' meeting kicks off a busy period of trans-Tasman economic meetings with the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum in Canberra in September and the Climate and Finance Ministers' meeting and CER Trade Ministers' meeting taking place later this year.
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.
