Labour supports the Indian FTA, but a fired-up NZ First leader says it’s an “utter unmitigated disaster of an agreement for NZ’s future”. Has it cost him farmer votes? Will he confirm he will not go into coalition with Labour? After calling them “woke self-confessed communists who would turn our country into a basket case. No, we won’t do a deal with Labour or their Marxist and separatist mates”.

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Labour's written to the Prime Minister supporting the India Free Trade Deal being signed in New Delhi next week.

National needed their support to pass the deal into law, since it was opposed by coalition partner New Zealand First.

But Chris Hipkins remains concerned about the commitment to promote billions of dollars of investment in India, saying it's not affordable.

Labour’s Trade Spokesperson Damien O’Connor told Kerre Woodham the slow dribble of information was frustrating, but they’ve reached a point where the balance looks good for New Zealand.

He says it does come with risks, but there are huge opportunities as well, and they needed to make sure the Government was going to commit to them.

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The Finance Minister says politicians should see our downgraded Moody's economic outlook as a wake-up-call, as she pieces together her Budget.

The rating agency's moved our designation from stable to negative, but reaffirmed our triple A credit rating.

Nicola Willis says she's got a clear set of goals for the 2026 Budget - and she's committed to sticking with them even during the ongoing crisis.

"The most urgent thing I'm having to do, pretty much every day at the moment, is say no to spending more...many New Zealanders are saying cut the petrol tax, do this for us, do that for us - I get it."

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Credit ratings agency confirms NZ AAA bur with a negative outlook citing slow path to surplus, govt moves big investments from Treasury to Infrastructure Commission.

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Senior Correspondent Katie Bradford examines how the infrastructure commission may change how big projects are delivered

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Economist Brad Olsen tells Ryan Bridge what NZ's latest economic downgrade means.

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Labour's leader is doubling down on his concern about the India-New Zealand free trade agreement's $33 billion Kiwi investment target.

The party's finally agreed to support the FTA, but is warning businesses to proceed at their own risk.

Chris Hipkins says the multi-billion-dollar target is unrealistic.

He says down the line, it could affect businesses that redirect exports to India.

"You've redirected product where you've developed a market - you could find that the constraints that have stopped you doing that until now are suddenly reimposed."

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As business owners, you know how hard it is keeping up with your business, let alone the news. Join Wilhelmina O'Keeffe each week as she gives you a rundown of the biggest stories that could impact your business, so you can make informed decisions with expert advice.
This week, Economists feel uneasy about the latest inflation data, the government reassures Kiwis about our dwindling fuel stocks and we’re one step away from signing the India Free Trade Agreement. Plus ... how AI can supercharge your finances.

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