WELL I NEVER ...

... said that I would never support National and the National led government if they came up with some good policies that will support  most New Zealanders and not just the National-voting elite but I didn't expect a good result on the India/New Zealand free trade agreement so soon.

Well I never!

The New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA), concluded in December 2025 and set for formal signing in April 2026, eliminates tariffs on 95% of NZ exports to India. This "game-changer" deal provides immediate duty-free access for over 50% of goods—including lamb, wool, and forestry—rising to 82% over time, while opening a 1.4-billion-customer market.
Key Aspects of the India-NZ FTA (as of April 2026): Tariff Elimination: Over 95% of New Zealand's current exports to India will get preferential access, with 57% of exports becoming duty-free immediately.
Key Sectors Benefited: Immediate duty-free access for lamb, wool, coal, and most forestry products.
High-Value Goods: Substantial access for kiwifruit (quota four times current exports) and apples, with tariffs on wine, manuka honey, and some dairy reduced or eliminated over time.
Customs Modernization: The deal aims to streamline processes, including a commitment for India Customs to release goods within 48 hours (24 hours for perishables).
Implementation & Support: The deal faced political debate in New Zealand, particularly around immigration, but secured support for passage in April 2026.

The agreement is designed to diversify New Zealand's export markets and deepen economic ties with India, which is projected to become the world's third-largest economy.

         - From Google search on the internet hence American spelling.

Labour is promising to support the deal but warns that exporters could have their market access revoked if New Zealand can’t fulfil a $33 billion investment commitment which is a big ask.

NZ First of course voiced concern about the agreement's impact on immigration along with investment clause while describing the deal as a “disgraceful sellout of the country’s future”. Peters being Peters of course underscored by his foolish deputy Jones who couldn't help himself from making 'curry-muncher' jokes. What an idiot.

When I was working in the wine industry I had a few meetings with Indian importers after researching the market, and all endeavours to get any reasonable volumes of New Zealand wine into India with its rapidly expanding middle class consumer market were kiboshed by the massive import tariffs on NZ wine which would have made a simple sauvignon blanc as costly as a chateau-bottled French wine.

Trade with India is a priority for New Zealand due to its wealth and global trading growth. We need to diversify and to not rely on just a few key trading partners in a changing geopolitical world where an ally today can become an ex tomorrow. New Zealand citizens with Indian heritage and Indian students and visa holders in New Zealand make up a significant percentage of our population and add favourably to our economy, culture and international standing - regardless of the Peter/Jones ill-informed opinions. This Indian community within New Zealand's demographic is a useful connection to our trade with India and the FTA will hopefully bring in some hard earned wealth to the country.

AT LEAST I REMEMBERED THEM REDUX

 

AT LEAST I REMEMBERED THEM

I walked to the Cenotaph today to attend the wreath laying ceremony for ANZAC day.

It was well attended and a pretty good ceremony. It's just as well though that I arrived 'early'. The useless twonk on the council who put the information on the website just listed "Wreath laying ceremony 9AM". As I was walking there I could hear a Maori choral group singing, then an oom-pah band and finally a pipe band playing. I arrived at 8.45 and going by the parades of air force, navy and army personnel, various bands and public, the show must have started at at latest 8.30!

I did arrive in time for some more of the same though and, oddly enough the pipe band was playing in tune and the brass one wasn't. That's something for Richard to ponder about which would make a change from his wandering about (and wondering about sin).

For the first time I had the chance of going inside the Cenotaph after the parade.

Here are some images and videos of the event.

Inside the Cenotaph war memorial

GHOST TOWN

 

I went for a long walk around Wellington yesterday to take advantage of the break in the weather.

I hadn't been for a walk in days so was missing it.

I walked from Thorndon to the Mount Cook area, around the Basin Reserve and back through Mount Victoria. I was half expecting to see Richard's little car at the top of Marjoribanks Street as he said he was staying in town near the Basin Reserve. Marjoribanks, a few kilometers away would be the likely place that the old guy would think to be 'handy parking'.

I enjoyed the walk knowing that it was doing me good and thought about Wellington and how much I've missed it over the years. I left in July 1981 nearly 45 years ago. Obviously there have been changes: Old buildings knocked down; new buildings put up; streets becoming one-way; some streets disappearing; new streets created; streets renamed; the waterfront being developed etc. Not all for the good but mostly so. Even with the many changes there was still a lot of familiarity. Ghosts lurked everywhere.

There's hardly a spot in Wellington that doesn't stir up a memory for me. I did, after all live here for 28 years before I left. Even when I was a school kid - primary, intermediate and secondary - I walked a lot around the city and the inner suburbs. When I had a bike I rode further afield to the outer suburbs and even, gasp, out to Petone and the Hutt Valley. Fortunately I survived.

As a 'paper boy' in Vogeltown I got to know all the neighbourhood streets, houses, shortcuts and walkways. As a 'paperboy' in the CBD I got to know all the main business houses and private clubs that I'd deliver to as well as the (now gone) pubs on most street corners. Later, as a bike messenger for C.M. Banks stationers I delivered stationery to offices in the CBD, The Terrace, Thorndon and most of the Northern part of town.

At university I rode a bike - a beautiful Carlton racing bike - and would go on little adventures around the greater Wellington area. Sadly some scrote stole this years later in Auckland. At university, when I was skipping lectures (often) I'd go for a drive in my car (initially the Triumph Herald and later the Hillman Super Minx) taking in areas that my biking never got me to.  At Murray Roberts and Co. Wine and Spirit Merchants, as a part-time job as delivery driver I, like Richard travelled all over the city delivering grog and again learned the short-cuts and best ways to get from A to B.  There aren't too many places I haven't been to and on my walks I rediscover them and uncover the ghosts.

The Specials song 'Ghost town' isn't exactly like my memories and might be more applicable to Richard's lament about how jazz-jamming isn't what it once was or should be but nevermind eh.

This town, is coming like a ghost town
All the clubs have been closed down
This place, is coming like a ghost town
Bands won't play no more
Too much fighting on the dance floor

FILLES DE KILIMANJARO - Miles Davis - A Silent Way

I've booked a motel in Wellington so I can go to that Jazz jam. Maybe I shouldn't have, but I'll go ahead with it now. It's on at a place called The Undercurrent in Tory St. and starts at 8pm. A late night for me!

          Richard's Bass Bag 

Tory Street, in Wellington's Mount Cook area has been hit by floods during the recent rainstorms.

I guess that The Undercurrent is well named for the jazz venue.

I hope that Richard takes his double bass instead of his violin to the jam - just in case.

WE CAN DANCE IF WE WANT TO

 Richard, via one of his alter egos - the grumpy uncultured one who no doubt represents 'the other side' of the old guy - in his latest post told Robert off for not playing music that he can dance to.

Richard must think it's Spring and not Autumn - either that or those steroids he's taking are raising his sap.

Robert, in his current one-legged situation would be better off playing 'hop' instead of 'bebop' though.

There are lots of good tunes suitable to dancing but, as I've mentioned before I will only dance to:

'Love Shack' by the B52's
'I think I'm turning Japanese' by the Vapors
A Van Morrison romantic ballad (for a waltz around with the Old Girl).

I do like to listen to Arthur Brown's song 'Dance' though:

Another quirky little song about dancing I like and almost never hear played on the radio is Men Without Hats's  'Safety Dance' song.

Given the decrepit state that the other bloggers are in at present, maybe safety dancing is advised for them.

SPECIAL BRANCH

 

The rise of illiteracy and poor grammar has meant that important public services have had to 'branch' out to cater to some sections of society who would otherwise be neglected being unable to find what they are looking for.

There are others:

You got the picture(s).

"THE TRUMPET WILL SEND ITS WONDROUS SOUND ...

 ... throughout earth's sepulchres and gather all before the throne."

-  From The Requiem in D minor, K. 626 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

(Nothing to do with Richard playing at any ANZAC Day parades.)

We went to hear Mozart's Requiem at the Michael Fowler Centre last evening.

I don't know who the tart is but she's certainly not Mozart

This is the first time that I have been at a performance of the Requiem from start to finish and thought it beautiful. The Wellington Orchestra and the Orpheus Choir did a really good job with it.

I'm not sure which bits were Mozart's and which were add-ons by other composers after his death but imagine that the most lyrical, delicate and downright ethereal were his.

I've heard bits of the Requiem played in film scores for films like The Big Lebowski, Eyes Wide Shut, Come And See and of course Amadeus which I've liked and why we decided to go to this performance.

I know nothing of Christopher Tin and fortunately the Requiem occupied to first half of the concert so we left at the interval to make our way home on a dreary and wet Wellington evening, pleased to have heard some wonderful music but not inspired enough by all the religious mumbo-jumbo to go the church this morning.

SOME THINGS

 ANZAC day approaches and I was looking forward to the dawn parade at the Cenotaph at the bottom of Bowen Street next Saturday.

This is because it's a short walk from home and because I have fond memories of attending dawn parades there with my dad when I was little. They had a real howitzer there in those days and at the end it made a live firing which scared the bejesus out of me, the pigeons and at least half of the attendees. Afterwards we walked to the railway station where long trestle tables were set out with steaming urns and railway-indestructible-standard cups of coffee laced with rum. This was my first taste of alcohol I think.

Unfortunately the dawn service will not be at the Cenotaph but at Pukeahu National War Memorial (by the Carillon and the old Wellington Museum. It's quite a long walk and I don't fancy going there but might change my mind on the day. At the Cenotaph there will be a 9am wreath laying which I will attend anyway. Here's a look at the Wellington city activities:

• 6am - A Dawn Service will be held at the Pukeahu National War Memorial.
• 9am - Wellington Citizens' Wreath Laying Service at the Cenotaph Precinct (corner of Lambton Quay and Bowen Street).
• 11am - The Anzac Day National Commemoration Service will take place at Pukeahu National War Memorial.
• 2.30pm - Wreath Laying Service at Atatürk Memorial in Tarakena Bay, Miramar.
• 5pm – The Last Post will be held at the Pukeahu National War Memorial.

I don't know what the Wainuiomartians and the Moerites will be getting up to - it's often better not to ask. Richard hasn't mentioned blowing his own trumpet other than skiting about his violin practice so I'm not sure if he will be 'bugling' at any local ceremonies. I believe that the organisers have been, in past years, unappreciative, disorganised and bloody rude so will be in for a shock if he doesn't attend. Maybe they can borrow that old record player that Tony found in the tip years ago and play Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.

Anyway, today The Old Girl and I were supposed to go to Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne as part of the volunteer programme to do the annual check of the predator-free fencing. This was to be from 1PM to 4PM but has just been cancelled due to the rain. We were all kitted out in raincoats, boots and over-trousers when the cancellation call came which I'm glad of as it was bucketing down half an hour ago. I guess it will be a lazy day indoors now.

Have a good Sunday all.

PLEASE NO - NOT MINNIE MOUSE

 

I listened to Nicola Willis being interviewed on the radio today and, amidst her usual lies, obfuscations and diversions totally ("100 percent") denied that she was first in line to usurp the failing and flailing Chris Luxon.

"Christopher has my total support"

 

This is politician-speak for "damned right I am - I've been waiting for this".

It will be interesting to see what happens over the weekend with not only Willis being evasive but the toady Chris Bishop also giving "100 percent" to Luxon.

"Good luck to them" I say, they are each as bad as the others. 

The only new prospect on the horizon with any 'mana' is Taine Randell who has thrown his hat in the ring with New Zealand First which is a shame as I would have liked to see him as a Labour candidate and possibly future prime minister. He is after all an ex All Black captain, a hell of a good rugby player, a law degree holder and experienced businessman having held senior board positions in reputable companies. He's also Maori which doesn't hurt and actually enhances his prospects but ... New Zealand First? I did say that he was a rugby player so maybe got kicked in the head a few too many times. Let's hope that there's a cure and he can get away from Winston's clutches soon.