\u201cWe want to explore critical minerals\u2026but the way that we unlock it, the way we develop it – it\u2019s really important that we do it in our national interest.\u201d<\/p>\n
Minerals Council chief executive Josie Vidal told Hosking this morning the decision was \u201ca little bit embarrassing\u201d, given New Zealand officials were in the United States touting New Zealand\u2019s place in the global mineral supply chain.<\/p>\n
Luxon also acknowledged the Government wanted unemployment figures to be lower and he hoped to see them track down through the course of the year. But he was pleased to see a bounce back in the hospitality sector, which was a \u201cleading indicator\u201d that the economy was improving.<\/p>\n
On the Government\u2019s plan to ban social media for under-16s, Luxon said he was looking very closely at what Australia had been doing. He acknowledged their approach wasn\u2019t perfect but \u201cyou\u2019ve got to die trying\u201d – protecting 70% of under-16s from the harms of social media was better than protecting none.<\/p>\n
Luxon\u2019s much-touted India free trade agreement is also facing scrutiny as NZ First continues to oppose the deal. <\/p>\n
The FTA was one of Luxon\u2019s campaign commitments before he was elected, but the content of the agreement \u2013 which has still not been released publicly \u2013 is disputed.<\/p>\n
Plans are also being laid for India\u2019s Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit New Zealand mid-year, just months before the NZ elections. Such a visit is likely to be considered a major coup for the Government<\/a>.<\/p>\n