If you want to develop your listening skills, try the tasks below as you listen to the text. The answers are at the bottom of this page. Thanks to Natasha Groves for preparing the tasks.
If you want to listen and read, just scroll down to the news story.
Use the vocabulary list to check the meanings of some words before you listen.
Vocabulary
announce – to officially tell people something, especially a plan or decision
tariff – a tax on goods going into or coming out of a country
forestry – the science or industry of growing or managing forests
quadruple – to increase and become four times as big or as high
shortage – when there is not enough of something
dairy – relating to milk and milk products
duty-free – tax-free
ingredient – one of the foods that you use to make a type of food or meal
infant formula – a type of liquid food for babies that is similar to breast milk
Try these activities while listening
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:
- Which countries have reached an agreement for a free trade deal?
- Has the trade deal been confirmed? Why/Why not?
- Which products will not have any tariffs?
- How will tariffs on wine change?
- In which fields does New Zealand have skills shortages?
- Who is Todd McClay?
- Why does the New Zealand First leader Winston Peters say it is a “low quality deal”?
- Will the Labour Party support the deal?
News story
Just before Christmas it was announced that New Zealand and India have reached an agreement for a free trade deal. However, it still needs to be approved by Parliament, and one of the political parties in the Government, NZ First, has said that it will not support it.
The agreement will eliminate or reduce tariffs on 95 percent of New Zealand’s exports to India. For example, there will be no tariffs on sheep meat, wool, coal, and nearly all forestry and wood exports. The reduction in tariffs for apples and kiwifruit mean that exports of those products will double or almost quadruple respectively, compared to recent average exports. Tariffs on wine will be reduced from 150 percent to either 25 or 50 percent. The agreement will also allow for some 3-year work visas in fields where New Zealand has skills shortages, such as doctors, nurses, teachers, information technology, and engineers. However, there are only limited gains for dairy exports, as there will only be duty-free access for dairy and other food ingredients for re-export, and for bulk infant formula.
The Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, and the Trade Minister, Todd McClay, are pleased with the deal. They said that this is “a high-quality trade agreement” and “a good deal that delivers for every New Zealander”. Regarding the dairy sector, they said that there is a possibility for access to improve in the future. However, the New Zealand First leader Winston Peters described it as a “low-quality deal” because of the increase in immigration and the limited changes for dairy exports. Consequently, he said that New Zealand First party members would vote against legislation to approve the agreement. That means that the Government will need Labour’s support to pass the legislation. Labour has not yet said if they will give this support, as they were waiting for the end of the holiday period to decide.
Answers – you don’t have to write a complete sentence as long as you have the key idea in your answer
a. Which countries have reached an agreement for a free trade deal?
New Zealand and India
b. Has the trade deal been confirmed? Why/Why not?
No, it hasn’t. It still needs to be approved by Parliament, and one of the political parties in the Government, NZ First, has said that it will not support it.
c. Which products will not have any tariffs?
Sheep meat, wool, coal, and nearly all forestry and wood exports
d. How will tariffs on wine change?
They will be reduced from 150 percent to either 25 or 50 percent
e. In which fields does New Zealand have skills shortages?
E.g. doctors, nurses, teachers, information technology, and engineers
f. Who is Todd McClay?
The Trade Minister
g. Why does the New Zealand First leader Winston Peters say it is a “low quality deal”?
Because of the increase in immigration and the limited changes for dairy exports
h. Will the Labour Party support the deal?
We don’t know yet. They were waiting for the end of the holiday period to decide.