Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Australian leader Anthony Albanese have met again for formal talks on Friday, alongside a number of their ministerial colleagues.
For the second time in a month, Ardern and Albanese have sat down together at Commonwealth Parliament Offices in Sydney to discuss New Zealand and Australia's relationship.
A number of ministers from each side are also present, including New Zealand's Finance Minister Grant Robertson, Climate Change Minister James Shaw, Māori Development Minister Willie Jackson, and Immigration Minister Michael Wood.
They all posed for photos before heading into a boardroom, where Ardern, Albanese and Robertson chatted about the Flying Nun record label T-shirts the New Zealanders gave the Aussie Prime Minister on their last visit as well as the pair's DJ experience.
"[We're] the only two DJs to ever be elected Prime Minister of our countries, probably globally," Albanese said.
Ardern then said: "I can guarantee that you'll never see us in that setting together."
Albanese also raised Ardern's attendance alongside himself and the leaders of Japan and South Korea at the NATO leaders summit last week.
"[It] was a signal to the world that this region really matters in terms of international security in the context of the strategic competition that we are seeing in the region," he said.
The two sides are likely to canvass a range of issues, including immigration, citizenship, indigenous affairs and economic development. As always, it's likely Ardern will bring up the 501 deportation policy.
Ardern has been in Australia this week on a trade mission and attended the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF) in Sydney on Thursday alongside ministers.
"Building on our trans-Tasman trade and economic links is fundamental to ensuring New Zealanders’ economic security both now, and into the future," Ardern said.
"By bringing over 250 business leaders and elected officials from across the Tasman together, the ANZLF presents an excellent opportunity for us to hear from businesses on how we can further co-operate, support and assist business to thrive as part of our recovery.
“Engagement between government and business is essential to ensure our settings promote sustainable and equitable economic growth, critical to achieving economic security for New Zealanders, and those in our wider region."
It's the first time the forum has been held since 2019 in Auckland before the COVID-19 pandemic.
