Thursday, 19 February 2026 11:25

Indian FTA

Written by Milking It

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

OPINION: Winston Peters' tirade against the free trade deal stitched with India may not be all political posturing by the wily politician.

A key highlight of the FTA is student mobility and post-study work visas. For the first time, New Zealand has signed a dedicated Student Mobility and Post-Study Work Visa Annex with any country.

The agreement also creates structured visa pathways for skilled Indian professionals, including a quota of 5,000 visas for stays of up to three years in sectors.

Peters’ assertion that the deal does more for Indian migrants than the dairy sector is not too far off the mark.

More like this

NZ Red Meat Sector Pushes for Swift India Free Trade Agreement

NZ Red Meat Sector Pushes for Swift India Free Trade Agreement

The New Zealand red meat sector has signed an open letter to parliamentarians from BusinessNZ, urging swift ratification of the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Wools of New Zealand Calls for India FTA to Boost Farmer Returns

Wools of New Zealand Calls for India FTA to Boost Farmer Returns

Wools of New Zealand is joining calls for New Zealand to urgently ratify a Free Trade Agreement with India.

Lame Duck?

OPINION: The media is already playing the 'who will Winston choose?' game every time the polls show Labour and National neck and neck.

FTA and Uber Drivers

OPINION: Expect the Indian free trade deal to feature strongly in the election campaign.

Todd McClay Seeks Labour Party Support for India Free Trade Agreement

Overseas Trade Minister Todd McClay says he's working constructively with the Labour Party in the hope they will endorse the free trade agreement (FTA) with India when the agreement comes before Parliament for ratification.

Popular Reads

Heinz Wattie’s Plant Closures Set to Hit Canterbury Vegetable Growers Hard

The proposed retrenchment of Heinz Wattied's manufacturing presenced in New Zealand will be a blow to the wallets of more…

State of Emergency Declared in Far North and Whangārei as Severe Weather Worsens

A precautionary State of Emergency was declared for the Far North District at 1.18pm today (Thursday 26 March), for an…

Halter Raises NZ$377M to Expand Virtual Fencing Globally

Halter has unveiled plans for a large-scale expansion of its virtual fencing and animal management system, following a major fundraising…

Local State of Emergency Declared in Waikato Ahead of Cyclone Vaianu

A Local State of Emergency has been declared for the Waikato for a period of seven days as the region…

Cyclone Vaianu Brings Heavy Rain, Flooding Across NZ

Cyclone Vaianu is continuing its track south towards the Bay of Plenty, bringing with it destructive winds, heavy rain, and…

Featured

Government Amends Stock Exclusion Regulations for Low-Intensity Grazing

The Government has announced changes to stock exclusion regulations which it claims will cut unnecessary costs and inflexible rules while maintaining environmental protections.

How AI and Wearable Tech Are Transforming NZ Dairy Farming Decisions

Technology and the use of artificial intelligence are increasingly part of life, both on the farm and off it.

Dairy Women’s Network Names 2026 Regional Leader Award Finalists

Ashleigh Gordon and Leilani Lobb have been named as the two finalists for Dairy Women's Network's (DWN) 2026 Regional Leader of the Year Award.

New Fungicide Approval Boosts NZ Potato Growers—Final Sign-Off Still Pending

Animal and Plant Health New Zealand (APHANZ) says the approval of a new fungicide seed treatment is a positive, however growers will be hoping the final approval is completed ahead of the spring season.

Adam Williamson Appointed DairyNZ Associate Director for 2026–27

North Canterbury farmer Adam Williamson has been appointed DairyNZ's associate director for 2026-27.

Fonterra Shareholders Urged to Consider Tax Implications

Fonterra farmers are set for a multi-billion-dollar payout this week.

National

Farmers Face Change but Opportunity as Sector Evolves

New Zealand's food and fibre sector is entering a period of significant transition and Irricon's refreshed brand reflects how both…

Meat and Dairy Vital for Health and Hunger Solutions, Experts Say

The executive director of the Global Dairy Platform (GDP) Donald Moore says research being done at Massey University's Riddet Institute…

First-Farm Buyers Braden and Brigitte Barnes Secure Ownership with Award Support

Braden and Brigitte Barnes have taken the leap into farm ownership to purchase their first farm with support from the…

Fifth-Generation Farmer Transforms Dairy Farm into Biodiversity Hotspot

Fifth generation farmer Stu Muir believes dairy farming and conservation can go hand in glove.

Taupiri Farmer Chris Woolerton Tipped as New Federated Farmers Waikato President

Taupiri farmer Chris Woolerton is tipped to take over as Federated Farmers Waikato president from next week.

Machinery & Products

Te Pari Launches Modular AB Race for Safer Dairy Breeding

With the artificial breeding season creating increased activity and the need to handle cattle safely and efficiently, a dedicated AB…

Robotic Rotary Milking: Inside a $6M Investment Paying Off Faster Than Expected

The Dairy ProQ robotic rotary, the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, has proven to be an impressive addition…

How Nedap Collars Help One NZ Dairy Farmer Become Data-Driven

For Ashburton farmer Craig Hickman, technology hasn’t replaced the way he farms, it’s strengthened how he operates day to day.

Wearable Monitoring Tech Earns Its Keep

Every farmer has had that cow that looked fine for the morning milk but was off by the arvo. By…

Valtra Launches Unlimited G5 CVT Packages

Part of the AGCO stable, Valtra is reinforcing its customisation strategy in the utility tractor segment with the launch of…

» Latest Print Issues Online

dairynewscover

ruralnewscover

winegrowercover

Milking It

Too Lenient

OPINION: Reckless action by Greenpeace in 2024 forced Fonterra to shut down a drying plant for four hours, costing the co-op…

Fossil Fuel Crusade

OPINION: The global crusade against fossil fuel is gaining momentum in some regions.

» eNewsletter