New Zealand PM vows aid cuts, trade deals if re-elected

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he would cut foreign aid and pursue new free trade agreements if re-elected in the Nov. 7 election.

Luxon said his centre-right National Party would reduce the NZ$1.2 billion (US$677 million) aid budget by 10 percent over four years and use the money for medicines in New Zealand. He said aid spending should focus on “must-do” projects rather than “nice-to-do” work overseas.

He cited spending on Indigenous workshops in Patagonia and climate change equipment for South African universities as examples of projects he would rather shift away from. The plan has drawn concern about New Zealand's standing abroad, including from coalition partner NZ First, which called it irresponsible.

Luxon also said he wanted to expand trade access after his government signed a free trade deal with India this year. He said a re-elected government would seek up to seven more markets in five years and 13 in 10 years, naming Brazil, Argentina, European markets and Bangladesh among possible targets.

New Zealand's election is expected to be close between National and the centre-left Labour Party, and either major party would likely need support from smaller parties to govern.