Wool Diplomacy Amid Trade Divide | Auckland News

Auckland News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 13, 2026 · 1m

New Zealand First’s Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is in India promoting New Zealand wool at a major textile expo — a move that’s sparking political fire as his party opposes the Free Trade Agreement with India ACT supports. While Patterson pushes for global market access and highlights wool’s export potential, ACT MP Parmjeet Parmar accuses him of hypocrisy, pointing out his taxpayer-funded trip promotes the very deal his party rejects. New Zealand First counters that they’re not anti-free trade — just wary of deals that don’t serve national interests — while also noting ACT backs the…