NZ First tells Parmjeet Parmar it's not against FTA, as ACT MP pokes fun at minister
Mark Patterson will speak at a business roundtable and "champion New Zealand strong wool" in India. (RNZ/Samuel Rillstone)
"What was it you said… 'better to watch what people do instead of what they say'. Indeed."
The ACT Party has taken a dig at a New Zealand First minister for heading to India on a trip to champion New Zealand wool, despite the party's opposition to the Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
The coalition parties have been at odds over their support for the FTA with India, with ACT in support and New Zealand First opposed to the deal.
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson - a New Zealand First MP - is visiting India this week for a global textile expo.
The Bharat Tex 2026 is India's largest textile expo. According to its website, 130,000 trade visitors and 7000 overseas buyers are set to visit the event, held in New Delhi.
Announcing his visit on Monday, Patterson - who holds the ministerial delegation for wool - said India was currently New Zealand's second largest market for wool.
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"It is a key market for Kiwi wool growers and exporters and there is strong potential for further growth."
Patterson said he would speak at a business roundtable and "champion New Zealand strong wool".
The Free Trade Agreement with India would immediately remove tariffs on wool exports. In the year to June 2025, wool exports to India were worth $76 million.
Patterson's announcement caught the attention of ACT MP Parmjeet Parmar, who criticised the minister for heading on a "taxpayer-funded trip" to promote wool exports to India while his party opposed the FTA.
"Sometimes it's better to watch what people do instead of what they say," she said.
"No doubt he will be pointing out to potential customers that as soon as the Free Trade Agreement is in place, there will be no tariffs and no admin for importing New Zealand Wool into India."
Parmar wished Patterson "every success" promoting new opportunities for New Zealand farmers under the FTA.
Responding to Parmar, New Zealand First said it was not opposed to free trade or Free Trade Agreements, but the party was against "bad Free Trade Agreements that are not in NZ's best interests".
The party pointed out ACT voted in support of the FTA despite it including United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Paris Agreement clauses - both of which ACT is opposed to.
"What was it you said… 'better to watch what people do instead of what they say'. Indeed."
New Zealand First has opposed the FTA, citing concerns over immigration and the clause related to $34 billion of investment into India.
National and ACT see the clause as a "commitment to promote investment", whereas the Indian side see it as an "investment commitment".
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has frequently jumped on this, warning of consequences for exporters if New Zealand fails to meet that commitment.
Trade minister Todd McClay has insisted both New Zealand and India are on the same page when it comes to the investment clause.
Patterson's announcement does not mention the FTA. Instead, it talked up the benefits of the government's increased investment in the wool sector overall.
"The government remains fully committed to backing the long-term success of our Kiwi wool growers, and the wider wool sector, to tap into increasing global demand for innovative, premium wool products," he said.
"We are investing more than $65 million with the wool sector in 25 projects to drive innovative and high-value opportunities and products, facilitate collaboration, and improve supply chain capability."
While in India, Patterson will also meet with key figures across New Zealand's wool supply chain, including manufacturers, researchers, and India's textile minister.
Since becoming a minister in 2023, Patterson has also visited Australia and China to promote New Zealand's wool sector.
(This story was first published on rnz.co.nz)
