New Zealand could draw on Victoria's infrastructure project expertise, with the prospect raised during a bilateral meeting of trans-Tasman leaders.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Jacinda Ardern met in Melbourne on Tuesday as part of the New Zealand prime minister's five-day visit to Australia.
The pair discussed early childhood education reforms, COVID-19 management, aged care, pressures on their respective healthcare systems and rail infrastructure, she told reporters after the meeting.
"(There are) some significant projects underway here," said Ms Ardern, who described Mr Andrews as a friend.
"We talked about what we're working on back in New Zealand and perhaps the ability to exchange, or at least share, a little bit of the expertise that exists here in Melbourne ... we're ultimately politicians interested in ideas so we shared a number between us."
Before the meeting, Mr Andrews said he was looking forward to speaking with Ms Ardern in person after talking over the phone during the pandemic border closures.
"She'll get a very warm welcome in Melbourne I'm sure," he said.
"We've also got a very significant number of New Zealanders who call Melbourne and Victoria home. So it makes sense at the end of an important international trip that she would stop by."
Ms Ardern will fly to Sydney on Wednesday for a number of tourism and business events, before meeting NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday and Friday to conclude her visit.
"This trip is part of our reconnecting work," she said.
"There's a singular focus on making sure we're driving trade, investment opportunities and tourism opportunities for New Zealanders, and I feel very keenly an obligation that every hour that I'm not in New Zealand I'm making the most of my time away to promote New Zealand's interests."
Earlier, Ms Ardern called on businesses to do more to increase sustainable practices, while reaffirming her country's climate change commitments.
Ms Ardern, who recently signed a free trade deal with the European Union, said climate change remains a hugely important issue in Australia and NZ as the world continues its post-pandemic recovery.
"The war (in Ukraine) and supply-chain constraints are hitting all of us," Ms Ardern said at a breakfast hosted by ANZ Banking Group.
"So too is the biggest pre-COVID challenge that we face. Climate change remains one of the most pressing issues for both of our countries and indeed the world."
New Zealand's EU free trade deal allows for the implementation of sanctions if climate change requirements are not met.
Australia's neighbour is on track to become the first nation in the world to put a price on agricultural emissions in 2025.
Ms Ardern said Australia and NZ must partner with business to succeed in the fight against climate change and applauded the new federal Labor government's zero-emissions target.
"Both our countries are setting very ambitious goals," she said.
She later visited the Monash Innovation Centre to sign a new agreement for the Melbourne university's program to help five New Zealand companies develop innovative consumer goods capable of launching in Australia or internationally.
