Anthony Albanese to host talks with NZ leader Christopher Luxon

Anthony Albanese will host New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon during a visit to Sydney on Wednesday, when they are expected to discuss rising Chinese influence in the Pacific.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Picture: AFP

Anthony Albanese will host New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon during his visit to Sydney on Wednesday, when they are expected to discuss rising Chinese influence in the Pacific and the countries’ economic and security ties.

The visit is Mr Luxon’s first ­official overseas trip since he ­became Prime Minister late last month, but follows an unofficial trip to Australia earlier this month to attend his daughter’s graduation in Melbourne.

Mr Luxon is the third New Zealand leader the Prime Minister has hosted at Kirribilli House after Jacinda Ardern and Chris Hipkins, but the first who from the conservative side of politics.

The visit comes as Mr Luxon faces a backlash on race relations, as his new government pushes to roll back the use of the Maori language and dissolve the country’s Maori Health Authority.

Mr Albanese said the visit so soon in Mr Luxon’s term demonstrated the closeness of the nations’ relationship.

“Australia and New Zealand are not just friends, we are family. Our close relationship is underpinned by our rich history and generations of community, business and government links,” the Prime Minister said.

“I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Luxon and working together to advance the unique Australia-New Zealand relationship.”

Mr Luxon said he would travel to Sydney on Wednesday to meet Mr Albanese and discuss the two countries’ security and economic relationships.

A former airline executive, Mr Luxon said on Monday that Australia was New Zealand’s most important partner. “New Zealand is committed to working together with Australia to support a stable and secure Indo-Pacific region. I look forward to discussing our close security and defence relationship,” he said.

Professor David Capie, director of Victoria University of Wellington’s Centre for Strategic Studies, said Mr Luxon was likely to give Mr Albanese a sense of his approach to foreign policy.

“Luxon and Albanese met when Albanese came over in August, so they’re not totally unfamiliar to each other but there will be a bit of a getting-to-know-you vibe for their first meeting as PMs,” he said.

“I expect there will be talk about regional and global challenges like Gaza and Ukraine but expect they will spend more time discussing issues closer to home, including views on China.”

Mr Albanese addressed the biggest irritant in the relationship between the countries last year when he declared Australia would no longer automatically deport New Zealand criminals after they had served their sentences in Australia.