Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will visit Sydney today, his first official overseas visit in the role.
The newly-sworn in PM is set to visit his counterpart, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Luxon said this week he knew Albanese from his "former life" - as the Air New Zealand CEO. Luxon met Albanese when the latter was the Australian Minister for Infrastructure and Transport.
He said he had even introduced Albanese to the incoming government in 2017, before he entered politics.
Luxon said the main focus of the two leaders' conversations were likely to be security, the economy and "people to people connections".
He said the Australian Government under Albanese had "done New Zealand a real solid", particularly with "common sense" approaches to 501 deportees and a pathway to citizenship for New Zealanders living in Australia.
Discussions could also include indigenous issues in the two countries, Luxon said.
It follows Australia voting 'no' on a referendum that would have established a permanent indigenous 'voice' to its Parliament - an advisory body.
On Monday Luxon said Albanese was one of the first international leaders he spoke with after the election, and he was looking forward to "ongoing discussions" throughout his own term as PM.
“The coalition Government will be engaging internationally with new urgency and intensity, to invest in relationships, increase prosperity and enhance our security.
“That starts with Australia, New Zealand’s most important partner and only ally."
The PM's scheduled trip to Australia was thrown into uncertainty shortly after its announcement this week, with the New Zealand Defence Force plane he is flying on needing repairs.
The plane, one of two Boeing 757 "VIP" aircraft, is over 30 years old and has been plagued with maintenance and range issues.
While sources had said it was doubtful the aircraft would be repaired in time, its repair was confirmed yesterday afternoon.
Today's visit follows two official Australian visits by former prime minister Chris Hipkins this year, where he visited Albanese in Canberra and later Brisbane.
Luxon unofficially visited Australia last week, when he went to Melbourne for the day to attend his daughter's graduation.
SHARE ME