Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to make policy announcement alongside Trade Minister Todd McClay

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is scheduled to unveil a new National Party policy on Saturday morning, accompanied by Trade Minister Todd McClay. The announcement, set to take place at a waterfront location in Auckland around 11 a.m., will be livestreamed.

This policy reveal precedes Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to New Zealand, a trip described by Luxon as "historic." Modi is expected to arrive in Auckland on Friday for a brief visit, the first by an Indian prime minister in four decades. However, the impending visit is shadowed by internal coalition disagreements regarding the recently signed free trade agreement (FTA) between the two nations.

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We told the New Zealand people that [the deal] would mean open-slather immigration from India to New Zealand. But the National Party has just changed its course – no doubt due to poor polling – and they have done so covertly.

Friction within the coalition government has surfaced, particularly concerning the FTA. Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters, whose New Zealand First party opposes the deal, has accused National ministers of "covertly" altering immigration settings for Indian nationals due to "poor polling." Peters stated in Parliament that the public was promised the deal would not lead to widespread immigration from India, but claimed the National Party had shifted course secretly.

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford responded to Peters' claims, warning that such public disputes could harm New Zealand's relationship with India. "I certainly don't think it's helpful for the relationship that we have with the Indian government for this to be playing out; it's not helpful at all," she told reporters. Stanford indicated she was attempting to manage the situation as Immigration Minister, trying to appease all parties, but noted Peters remained dissatisfied even after adjustments to immigration policies.

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I certainly don't think it's helpful for the relationship that we have with the Indian government for this to be playing out; it's not helpful at all.