Re-establishing direct flights between Canberra and New Zealand is on the agenda as Chief Minister Andrew Barr visits Canberra’s sister city Wellington this week for the annual Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF) today, Wednesday 19 July.   

The ANZLF brings government and business together to help Australia and New Zealand prosper. Senior government and business leaders discuss collaboration, business, and trade between Australia and New Zealand. 

The ANZLF is the only high-level and broad-based bilateral Australia-New Zealand forum that engages closely on policy issues with governments on both sides of the Tasman.

The 2023 Forum will celebrate 40 years of closer economic relations and progress work towards net-zero emissions, free movement of goods and people across the Tasman, advancing the digital economy and trans-Tasman innovation ecosystem, and enhancing engagement between Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific.

The Forum will also include a dinner reception with New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Finance Minister Grant Robertson.

Mr Barr’s two-day visit also includes meetings with Wellington City Council to progress the Canberra-Wellington Sister City Agreement and future opportunities for collaboration on aviation, tourism, and creative industries. 

The Chief Minister will also meet Wellington Airport officials in the next step to re-establish direct aviation connections between Canberra and Wellington, first discussed in 2021. 

The cost of the Chief Minister’s delegation is approximately $9,000. This is met from the 2023-24 ACT Executive budget. The final cost will be reported as part of the regular travel reports.