New Zealand is looking to build stronger ties with India.

The Prime Minister is heading to New Delhi and Mumbai on Saturday with a contingent of ministers and business leaders.

Prioritising a deal with the fast-growing economic giant was a coalition condition with NZ First.

India New Zealand Business Council Chair Bharat Chawla told Andrew Dickens he has confidence in this trip.

He says it's a perfect opportunity as a lot of work has been done over the last 24 months to make it happen.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's thought the Prime Minister's communication style doesn't sit well with Kiwis.

The latest Taxpayers’ Union-Curia Poll shows Chris Hipkins has leap-frogged Chris Luxon as preferred PM.

Labour's also ahead on 34.1%, with National trailing on 33.6%.

National's support has risen, but support for coalition partners Act and New Zealand First have both dropped.

Auckland University marketing expert, Michael Lee told Andrew Dickens Luxon's question side-stepping on Andrew Bayley's sacking was a good example of what he needs to improve.

He says there are ways of answering that show he doesn't want to respond in a way which could get himself or someone else in trouble, later on.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re awash with polls.

The Taxpayer Curia poll and research from Horizon.

It all says we’re not happy with the country right now. Therefore, we’re not happy with the Government.

And no kidding. Things have not been good for a while now.

No matter who was in power a correction was needed.

We swamped the nation with cash at the start of the pandemic. Unnecessarily we can now say with hindsight

And then we paid the price.

So, the Government is going to be on the backfoot, no matter who they are.

I actually think the surprising thing is how the coalition’s support is holding up.

Sure, Luxon has his problems.

Sure, Seymour and Peters say the most triggering things knowing that there’s a bunch of people who love it.

But are the opposition making any sense at all and acting like they’d do better?

Chris Hipkins over the weekend played cagey with his party's positions,

When asked about the capital gains tax he prevaricated and then talked cryptically about tax reforms.

And that’s about all the policy talk I can rustle up from Labour.

The Greens and the Māori party just keep on saying what they always say, but just personally they appear to be still on holiday. They’re certainly not in the house.

So, all this poll says is that our blocs are evenly matched in tribal terms

The trick will be the swinging voters who vote for self interest

But let’s see what things will be like in 18 months' time.

A poll at this time is like some small talk at a party that hasn’t started yet.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.