Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese have reiterated their positions on recognising Palestinian statehood, but neither would shed light on a possible timeframe for that move.
Other Western nations, including France, the United Kingdom, and Canada, have recently declared an intention to recognise a state of Palestine at an upcoming United Nations summit next month.
That consideration also comes at the same time as the United States – a staunch ally of Israel – conducts trade negotiations over its roll-out of tariffs – including 15% on New Zealand goods.
But, speaking from Queenstown after their annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders’ Meeting, both Luxon and Albanese said they would make their own calculations and decisions about Palestine “independent” of such considerations.
“We make our own assessments in… our own economic and our security interests,” Luxon said.
“Australia has exactly the same position,” Albanese added. “As a sovereign nation, we make our decisions.”
NZ, Aus advocate for diplomacy over military action in Gaza
Behind closed doors at Taramea – a private retreat built by Xero founder Rod Drury – the two men discussed the “ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza”, as well as a range of other geopolitical tensions, relationships and conflicts.
In response to questions from media, both leaders laid out their expectations and hopes for the crisis.
“[Australians] want to see a ceasefire,” Albanese said. “They want to see the killing stop. They want to see hostages released. They want to see peace in the region.
“They don’t want conflict brought to Australia either.”
Luxon said New Zealand’s position was clear: “We want to see hostages released. We want to see unfettered humanitarian aid flooding into Gaza. And we want to see a ceasefire.
“The military action that we’ve seen is not the way to solve this problem. It requires diplomacy. It requires dialogue.”
Luxon said both New Zealand and Australia were “a long way away” from the conflict and had “limited influence”, but they did what they could to advocate for their values, including by signing up to a new joint statement on Saturday.
Earlier on Saturday, the foreign ministers of New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s latest large-scale military operation in Gaza.
They warned the plans risked violating international law and would aggravate the “catastrophic humanitarian situation”.
The statement also reaffirmed support for a negotiated two-state solution, contingent on a demilitarised Hamas having no role in the governance of Gaza.
No breakthrough in 501 impasse
Both leaders reiterated their unchanged positions on a longstanding Trans-Tasman disagreement over the issue of 501 deportees.
Responding to a question from RNZ, Albanese said “you won’t be surprised” that Luxon had once again raised the matter with him.
“I’d expect him to,” Albanese said.
“But as Australia’s Prime Minister, you’d expect me to say that the issue of Australia’s national interest is what we put first in all of our relations.”
Following up, Luxon said he accepted Australia’s right to make its own border rules, but that many of those returning deportees had “very little connection to New Zealand”.
The 501 impasse goes back to the early 2010s when Australia started cancelling visas of New Zealanders under its character test, even those who had spent nearly all their lives in Australia.
In 2022, Albanese emerged from talks with former PM Jacinda Ardern to promise a more compassionate approach, but in 2024, facing domestic political pressure, he reversed course and reinstated stricter deportation policies.
The two leaders also announced a new partnership between their national standards bodies, which they said would make trade even easier and support economic growth on both sides of the Tasman.
Both men joked during the media conference about the frigid temperatures in Queenstown.
Luxon quipped that he was losing 40% of his body heat through his “bullet-shaped head”.
At the close of questions, Albanese said they were now going back inside “for a cuddle”.
Albanese reflects on his last visit to Queenstown as a backpacker
The summit opened on Saturday afternoon with a pōwhiri by Ngai Tahu, which Albanese described as “very moving”. Albanese is accompanied on the visit by fiancée Jodie Haydon.
In his opening remarks, Albanese thanked Luxon and his wife Amanda for the “warm generous welcome” and said it was a “delight” to be back in New Zealand – his third visit as prime minister, but one of many over the years.
He recalled last visiting Queenstown as a backpacker “last century” and said holding the meeting in such a location was “a great honour”.
Albanese spoke of the “uncertain world” the two nations face; the one certainty, he said, was that “Australia and New Zealand stand together”, a relationship going back to the ANZACs.
Luxon’s comments reflected a similar sentiment: “The world seems really uncertain and fractious, and actually, we have no greater friend than Australia.”
He and Albanese have known each other since Luxon’s time at Air New Zealand, when Albanese was Australia’s transport minister.
The yearly fixture alternates between the two countries and allows the prime ministers to discuss bilateral ties and set priorities for the year ahead.
Luxon has called the trans-Tasman relationship “the best it’s ever been”.
Two-way trade is worth $32 billion, and ministers on both sides have been meeting regularly to strengthen ties.
Later today, the leaders will lay a wreath at Arrowtown War Memorial Park before Albanese departs.
By Katie Todd and Craig McCulloch of rnz.co.nz
