Christopher Luxon slams Shane Jones over India FTA comments, brushes off poll slump

The prime minister says comments made by New Zealand First's deputy leader about the free trade agreement (FTA) with India were "crass and unprofessional", saying his coalition partner is on the wrong side of history.

At NZFirst's annual convention over the weekend, deputy leader Shane Jones criticised supporters of the deal, saying his party was "nationalist" and was speaking up for New Zealanders' interests.

NZ First does not support the deal, citing concerns over immigration and whether the clause to promote investment of $34 billion is actually a firm investment commitment with repercussions if New Zealand fails to reach that target.

Jones said he would "call out" the levels of Indian migration into New Zealand "every day, every week, every month".

"It is not foundational Kiwi culture to have foreigners running slave gangs in our kiwifruit industry, never paying tax, owing more to the IRD than the GDP of Kaitaia. Put them on the first plane and send them home."

Referring to the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi the weekend prior, Jones then addressed the leaders of other parties.

"Labour Party, National Party, ACT Party, Green Party: the next time you go to an ethno-nationalist rally to receive a foreign leader, take off your knee pads. You represent the New Zealand Parliament."

Asked about Jones' comments on Morning Report, Christopher Luxon said he remained proud of the deal.

"Pretty crass and unprofessional comments. I'm actually super proud of our India FTA, I'm actually proud of the team and all the efforts that went into hosting a significant world leader in Prime Minister Modi, and I would have thought that we actually want all of New Zealand presenting well out on the global stage."

Similarly to comments made by ACT last week, Luxon pointed out the irony of NZ First opposing the deal while one of its ministers visited India to promote New Zealand wool.

"Frankly, it's a bit hypocritical from NZ First to be against the Indian FTA while they've got their colleague, the Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson, out there in India trying to sell tariff-free New Zealand wool under the FTA to Indians.

"So at least he realises the massive economic benefits of the FTA for the people in the regions."

Luxon was also asked about the latest RNZ-Reid Research poll result, which put National on its lowest result since he became leader.

National was at 28.7 percent, a fall of 2.1 percentage points and its fourth consecutive decline in this poll.

But Luxon dismissed the result, saying there were lots of polls and his focus was on fixing the "gnarly, hard problems" facing the country.

"I don't talk about your poll. What I can tell you is, though, that even just having come back from the States, is I reckon the US, Australia, places like that are on an economic downswing. I think New Zealand's on an economic upswing.

"We see that 14 percent growth in Kiwis coming back home from Australia last year. We've got good economic growth. You saw manufacturing expanding last week, services expanding, good levels of exports, investor-farmer confidence, and business confidence actually on the improve.

"It's been a difficult two years, no doubt about it. But New Zealand's certainly on an upswing, and that's my job is to drive it home."