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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the India Free Trade Agreement will have different immigration settings than deals with other countries, because each deal is unique.
The Drama: Is the Deal Unfair?
The whole debate kicked off when Foreign Minister Winston Peters accused the National party of quietly tweaking immigration rules. He claimed he saw a document showing that the new rules would specifically target and restrict people migrating from India. According to Peters, this could put a massive dent in New Zealand’s reputation and our relationship with India.
Luxon’s Take: “It’s Just Normal Business”
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon wasn’t having any of it. Speaking on Morning Report, he completely shut down the discrimination claims, calling them “just wrong.”
Luxon explained that every single trade deal New Zealand signs is unique. Because of that, the immigration and visa setups are always custom-tailored. According to him, having the Immigration Minister set up bespoke rules is just standard procedure.
He also took a swipe at Peters, suggesting he’s just playing “easy politics” and stirring up anti-immigration sentiment. Luxon pointed out that both the New Zealand and Indian governments are actually super happy with how things are looking.
Wait, There’s More: Enter ACT and Labour
It wouldn’t be a proper political debate without the other parties chiming in, right?
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David Seymour (ACT) isn’t thrilled about a specific clause that snuck into the agreement regarding the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). He feels these kinds of “fish hooks” have nothing to do with trade and shouldn’t be in there, blaming the bureaucracy for sneaking it in. Still, he wants the trade deal to go ahead—just with fewer political side-quests next time.
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Damien O’Connor (Labour) called out both Winston Peters and David Seymour for being “disloyal” to the country by playing politics with a deal that has massive potential. While Labour admits the agreement isn’t perfect, they fully back it.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, both National, Labour, and ACT are on board to get this deal across the finish line, while New Zealand First is holding out. Despite the loud debates in Wellington, the government insists it’s full steam ahead for a great partnership with India.