If you want to develop your listening skills, try these tasks as you listen to the text. The answers are at the bottom of this page, after the Vocabulary. Thanks to Natasha Groves for preparing the tasks.
If you want to listen and read, just scroll down to the text.
1. Listening for main ideas
First, just listen to the text, taking notes if you wish. What information can you catch during this first listening?
2. Now listen again and answer the following questions:
- Where did the Prime Minister go last week?
- What did the Prime Minister announce on the first day of the trip?
- Why did similar talks fail a decade ago?
- What was the outcome of last week’s discussions between the two trade ministers?
- Apart from trade, in which other areas is the Prime Minister seeking greater cooperation with India?
- What does the speaker say about cricket?
- Who went to the United States last week?
- Who did he meet and why?
- What did he say about the meetings?
- What topics were probably discussed?
Text
Last week the Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Winston Peters, both went overseas to build diplomatic and trade relationships.
The Prime Minister travelled to India for four days of meetings with his counterpart, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and other ministers. He announced on the first day that both countries have agreed to start negotiations for a free trade deal between New Zealand and India. A decade ago, there were similar trade talks, but they were unsuccessful, largely because of differences related to dairy. India is the world’s largest producer of milk and has agricultural tariffs to protect millions of small-scale rural farmers. However, after an initial meeting between New Zealand’s Trade Minister Todd McClay and his counterpart, the two countries stated that they are committed to working as quickly as possible to find an agreement. Discussions have been brought forward from next month to this week.
In addition to trade, the Prime Minister wanted to build a much broader relationship with India, including on security in the region. He and Prime Minister Modi announced that they have agreed to greater cooperation in maritime areas, such as protecting trade routes and countering terrorism, as well as collaboration in areas such as education and immigration. They both stated that they support a strong, stable and prosperous region. Christopher Luxon also delivered the opening speech at Raisina 2025, an annual international geopolitics conference hosted by India. Cricket is a very popular sport in India and New Zealand, so the rivalry between the two countries was also mentioned in speeches. Luxon also played cricket with some professional players and children in a street game which was organised by a charity.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Winston Peters was in the United States for three days for several meetings, including with National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. It was the first time he’d met them, so he said his focus was on building relationships. He also said his meetings were incredibly important in the current global economic circumstances, particularly with the new policies being announced by the Trump administration. He has not yet stated publicly what the discussions involved, as he needs to brief his Cabinet colleagues first. However, it is likely that trade, defence, and security were on the agenda.
Vocabulary
announce – to officially tell people something, especially a plan or decision
diplomatic – relating to the work of diplomats. Diplomats represent their country in a foreign country
counterpart – someone who has the same job as someone else, in a different place
dairy – relating to milk and milk products
tariffs – a tax on goods going into or coming out of a country
rural – in the countryside (not the city)
maritime – relating to the sea or ships
counter – (verb) to do something in order to prevent something bad happening
collaboration – working together
prosperous – rich and successful
geopolitics – the political relations between countries and groups of countries in the world, as influenced by their geography
Cabinet – a group of senior members of a government who decide on government policy
agenda – a list of topics to be discussed at a meeting
Answers
1. Where did the Prime Minister go last week?
India
2. What did the Prime Minister announce on the first day of the trip?
Both countries have agreed to start negotiations for a free trade deal between New Zealand and India.
3. Why did similar talks fail a decade ago?
Mainly because of differences related to dairy. India is the world’s largest producer of milk and has agricultural tariffs to protect millions of small-scale rural farmers.
4. What was the outcome of last week’s discussions between the two trade ministers?
The two countries stated that they are committed to working as quickly as possible to find an agreement. Discussions have been brought forward from next month to this week.
5. Apart from trade, in which other areas is the Prime Minister seeking greater cooperation with India?
Security in the region; in maritime areas, such as protecting trade routes and countering terrorism; and in areas such as education and immigration.
6. What does the speaker say about cricket?
Cricket is a very popular sport in India and New Zealand, so the rivalry between the two countries was mentioned in speeches. Luxon also played cricket with some professional players and children in a street game which was organised by a charity.
7. Who went to the United States last week?
Foreign Minister Winston Peters
8. Who did he meet and why?
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. His focus was on building relationships.
9. What did he say about the meetings?
They were incredibly important in the current global economic circumstances, particularly with the new policies being announced by the Trump administration.
10. What topics were probably discussed?
Trade, defence, and security