Trade and tourism are high on the agenda for Jacinda Ardern as the New Zealand leader visits Australia this week.
The Kiwi prime minister will attend a formal meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, take part in an Australia-NZ leadership forum along with a number of New Zealand ministers, and deliver a speech on foreign policy at the Lowy Institute.
Yet the visit is firmly focused on trade and tourism, with more than 30 Kiwi business leaders joining Ms Ardern in Australia.
“This trade mission is one of many steps this Government is taking to reconnect New Zealand with the world while actively strengthening partnerships between government, business and industry,” she said in a statement on Monday.
New Zealand has relaxed its restrictions on international visitors and other measures taken to control the spread of COVID-19 during the pandemic.
Ms Ardern will engage with tourism leaders from both countries while in Sydney, where she will meet with NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet.
She will also meet Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews in Melbourne, where the Kiwi leader will attend an ANZ business breakfast and a dinner event showcasing New Zealand food and drink.
New Zealand Small Business and Tourism Minister Stuart Nash, who is among the Kiwi ministers accompanying their PM, said Australia is the country’s largest source of visitors.
More than 1.55 million Australians crossed the Tasman Sea in 2019 and contributed over $NZ2.7 billion ($A2.45 billion) to New Zealand’s economy, he said.
“With our borders now open and the removal of pre-departure testing, we’ve created significant opportunities for tourism recovery as we welcome back our Australian friends,” he said.
