The Prime Minister says New Zealand's free trade agreement with India should be in effect by the end of the year. 

The deal's been signed in New Delhi overnight. 

It's due to be tabled in Parliament today, have its first reading in May, and then go through select committee and public consultation before its final reading, possibly in late September. 

Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking that having the deal already signed is positive. 

He says there is a clause in the deal in which India will match clauses in any further deals that are more favourable than ours. 

Luxon also defended cancelling his weekly appearance on TVNZ’s Breakfast, saying he’s “pretty accessible” when compared to other leaders around the world. 

The Prime Minister’s team ditched the regular interview with Tova O’Brien last week, saying Kiwis now consume media on many different platforms – however he’ll still appear on a case-by-case basis. 

He denied that meant he was “chicken or running for the hills”, in Hosking’s words. 

Luxon says that he reset how he wanted to engage with the media, and it was no different than what former Prime Ministers such as Jim Bolger, John Key, and Jacinda Arden had done. 

But he also referred to a “second issue” – referring to National Party whip Stuart Smith’s reported run-in with TVNZ reporters last week. 

He said they respect the role of the media but highlighted the need for standards and rules in Parliament.  

“We've had an issue with TVNZ around that, and we've made that clear to TVNZ management.” 

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