In preferred Prime Minister ratings, Luxon and Labour leader Chris Hipkins are level on 20.2%.
Meanwhile, Albanese wrapped up a visit to Queenstown yesterday, where he and Luxon discussed doing business across the ditch, lifting living standards, immigration and the war in Gaza.
Following their helicopter ride, which took in the Remarkables, Cecil Peak and the Humboldt Glacier, Luxon told media the transtasman relationship is “as strong as it’s ever been”.
“That helps a lot when you’ve got good chemistry with the leader. We’re very aligned.”
It was Luxon and Albanese’s fourth face-to-face meeting as Prime Ministers. On Saturday, they released a joint statement urging Israel to reconsider its plan to take full control of Gaza.
The annual transtasman talks follow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement on Friday that Israel plans to take full control of Gaza.
“Any attempt by Israel to escalate hostilities, including by taking control of Gaza City, would be wrong, risk violating international law and exacerbate the human catastrophe already unfolding inside the Gaza Strip,” a joint statement from Luxon and Albanese following their meeting said.
Albanese and Luxon also discussed recognising the state of Palestine, and their shared respective positions that it’s a matter of when, not if.
Australia has recently suggested it may be willing to make the recognition sooner rather than later, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong warning of a risk “there will be no Palestine left to recognise”.
Luxon also brought up the controversial and ongoing issue of 501 deportees to New Zealand from Australia, though there was no indication of Australia softening its stance.
The talks took place against a backdrop of a net migration loss of 30,000 people departing New Zealand for Australia in the year ended December 2024.
This comprised 17,300 migrant arrivals from Australia to New Zealand and 47,300 migrant departures from New Zealand to Australia.
