Barry Soper: 'Loose lipped apprentice PM' - Fallout from Luxon's 'C-listers' clanger

The Prime Minister’s trade mission to Japan’s been pretty successful but who would have noticed?

Most of the business signed there, like the Rocket Lab agreement to send Japanese satellites into space, is a great yarn.

But the trip will be remembered for anything but the business foray to our fourth most important export market.

It’ll be remembered for a broken down RNZAF jet in Papua New Guinea, and the rescue of the mission by the Air New Zealand boss, who happened to be on the trip with his chairwoman, by diverting a plane out of Auckland to pick them up in Brisbane.

Geoffrey Miller: What to expect from Chris Hipkins’ trip to China

Timing is everything.

After months of mixed signals, Chris Hipkins will head to China at the end of June.

The New Zealand Prime Minister’s long-awaited visit to Beijing will come shortly before he attends July’s NATO summit in Vilnius.