by Mike Bain, The Daily Examiner.

The latest Taxpayers’ Union-Curia poll has revealed a shift in New Zealand’s political landscape. Labour leader Chris Hipkins has overtaken National’s Christopher Luxon as the preferred Prime Minister, with Labour edging ahead of National in party support. Labour rose to 34.1%, while National climbed to 33.6%. The Greens and ACT saw declines, while Te Pāti Māori gained ground. This poll suggests that the centre-left bloc could form a government if elections were held today.

Meanwhile, Christopher Luxon is scheduled to visit India from March 16 to March 20, 2025.

 Luxon is preparing for a significant diplomatic mission to India. This trip, described as one of the most consequential visits by a New Zealand Prime Minister, aims to strengthen trade and security ties with India, a rapidly growing economic powerhouse. Luxon will meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and deliver the inaugural address at the Raisina Dialogue, India’s premier defence and security forum.

Luxon has emphasized the importance of building a broader relationship with India, which he believes has been neglected in the past. He aims to explore opportunities in sectors like agriculture, renewable energy, and advanced technology. However, challenges remain, particularly in negotiating trade agreements, as India’s dairy industry is wary of competition from New Zealand’s producers.

This trip underscores Luxon’s commitment to positioning New Zealand as a key player in the Indo-Pacific region while addressing domestic political challenges highlighted by the latest poll results.