PM Christopher Luxon in happy place hanging with Australian PM Anthony Albanese

Anthony Albanese and Christopher Luxon head into talks during the visit.

Photo: Supplied / Prime Minister's Office

Analysis - Preim Minister Christopher Luxon is most relaxed when on the international stage engaging with his counterparts on global affairs - even when the state of the world is fraught and unpredictable.

There are times when his handling of international issues at home looks deeply uncomfortable, like the days he stumbled through articulating New Zealand's position on the US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

It transpired he had wanted to consider a position that was more in line with Australia's, and more explicitly in support of the attacks.

It is at home where he can trip up, and it is at home where his government faces the pressures of a cost-of-living crisis.

But a two-day whirlwind trip across the Tasman is one Luxon takes in his stride - he was at his best going from meeting to meeting, jam-packed over about 30 hours between Brisbane and Noosa.

He is even happy to help pack up a reporter's tripod as the contingent of officials, staff, diplomats and media are rushing to get on the road in time for the first engagement with Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese.

Luxon chalked up the visit as a success and said it came at a "pivotal" time, referencing fuel supply challenges due to the conflict in the Middle East.

He has also made no secret of the volatile global situation.

On the eve of the trip, the New Zealand government had to respond to China banning four MPs. Australia waded in, saying it supported New Zealand's position that MPs could make their own decisions about travelling to Taiwan.

Law professor Alexander Gillespie called it a "warning shot" from China, but said it was excellent Luxon and Albanese were standing together on the issue.

"More than just neighbours," Albanese said, "we are family". A relationship that should "never be taken for granted", Luxon added.

Of course, there have been times when the trans-Tasman relationship was tested - think former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern telling Australia to stop deporting its people and its problems to New Zealand.

Commentators have also remarked on New Zealand taking Australia for granted, especially when it came to defence and protection.

But the pair both pointed out multiple times this weekend that the relationship was better than ever.

Christopher Luxon with Anthony Albanese on June 6, 2026.

Photo: RNZ/ Lillian Hanly

New Zealand's increased defence spending has meant Australia - and others - are not able to claim the country is not pulling its weight. At least they cannot say it as much as they used to.

Although it was New Zealand's own Foreign Minister who said the country's voice was not strong on the international stage and spending more on defence would make it stronger.

Winston Peters said he could get defence spending to 3 percent of GDP within a year, but he would need more power at the Cabinet table to do so.

That the trans-Tasman relationship is better than ever, making it easier to conduct these setpiece bilateral events.

New Zealand and Australia are on the same page about most things, making it unlikely for these trips to go anything but well. They are aligned economically and now they are looking to be more aligned militarily.

There is one line that will not be crossed though - New Zealand's anti-nuclear stance.

Luxon was clear when he quickly came out saying New Zealand's position had not changed and would not while he was Prime Minister.

Defence Minister Chris Penk last week said it would be "helpful" for the country to have "a conversation", given Australia was expected to acquire three nuclear-propelled submarines as part of the AUKUS deal.

Luxon seemed aware that conversation was no vote winner during an election year, while his Defence Minister seemingly was not.

Is it a conversation the country will have to have at some point?

Asked by RNZ whether Australia would ever expect New Zealand to change its stance to allow its submarines into its waters, Albanese said his country respected New Zealand's nuclear-free position and would work with that, "whilst respecting New Zealand sovereignty", when the country secured the submarines.

Luxon added that it was a "matter of principle" for New Zealand.

"Australia and all of our partners have been very good at understanding our position and working with us around that," he said.

The nuclear issue is not contested across the political spectrum in New Zealand. However, the major party positions on a capital gains tax are.

Albanese was asked about Finance Minister Nicola Willis' suggestion Australians "come over" to New Zealand because there was no capital gains tax and the inflation rate was lower.

Also, in May, Willis took a party-political dig at Labour by pointing to the Albanese government's broken promise to expand its capital gains tax, saying this was what New Zealanders could face under a Labour government.

Albanese shrugged it off as banter, saying he was unbothered about what people say "tongue-in-cheek overseas".

Luxon said what was important for him was that neither nation commented on the other's domestic economic policies.

They came together again to condemn anti-migrant rhetoric, with Luxon calling it "lazy" politics and Albanese saying it "sought to divide".

Populist minor parties New Zealand First and Australia's One Nation enjoy increasing support in polling, with tightened immigration a key pillar in their sell to voters.

It puts pressure on the major parties to hold their ground.

While Albanese was re-elected last year and has until 2028 before he faces the polls again, Luxon is looking down the barrel of an election in November.

There is no shortage of issues both abroad and at home for him to be tested on before then.

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