The banter for the media was about the Bledisloe Cup and Christchurch's recovery when Australian Treasurer Joe Hockey was welcomed to the Beehive by Prime Minister John Key and Finance Minister Bill English this morning, but the rights of Kiwis in Australia will be on the agenda in behind closed doors discussions.
Mr Hockey is making his first annual visit to New Zealand after becoming Treasurer last year.
Asked about the issue of New Zealanders rights in Australia - which is behind a push to form a new "expats party" based across the Tasman to contest the September elections here - Mr English this morning said that would be among "a list of issues" to be discussed with Mr Hockey.
"It's just an issue where there's ongoing discussion between the New Zealand and Australian Governments. I think the positions are well known and pretty well understood. There's been discussions about it between the prime ministers and we wouldn't have high expectations about major progress although we may be able to make incremental progress."
Mr Hockey and Mr English will speak at a Trans-Tasman Business Circle lunch tomorrow in Wellington.
