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NEW DELHI: The India-New Zealand FTA ran into some political opposition in Wellington as the right-wing New Zealand First (NZF), a member of the ruling coalition, opposed the deal, calling it neither free nor fair. NZF leader Winston Peters, who is also the foreign minister of New Zealand, said his party would vote against the enabling legislation as and when it’s introduced.”Regrettably, this is a bad deal for New Zealand. It gives too much away, especially on immigration, and does not get enough in return for New Zealanders, including on dairy,” said Peters.However, the opposition Labour Party was reported to have indicated support for the legislation when it’s introduced in Parliament. According to Peters, while New Zealand is completely opening its market to Indian products under the deal, India is not reducing the significant tariff barriers currently in place for New Zealand’s major dairy products. “The India FTA would be New Zealand’s first trade deal to exclude our major dairy products — including milk, cheese and butter. In the year to Nov 2025, New Zealand exports of these products were worth around $24 billion, or 30% of our total goods exports,” said the minister.
