PM on the conflict between Israel and Iran and his visit to China this week. Video / Herald NOW
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon heads to China and Europe this week as the world leader Australians feel most confident to do the right thing regarding foreign affairs.
The Lowy Institute, a well-known Australian think tank, has today released its annual poll on how Australians view international matters. It’s beenrunning for more than two decades, with the group calling it the “leading Australian survey on foreign affairs”.
A key section of the poll reveals Australians’ feelings towards a range of world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and an assortment of others.
The results show 63% of respondents had either some confidence or a lot of confidence in the New Zealand leader. Just 14% had either no confidence or not a lot. The rest either weren’t sure or didn’t know who he was.
Following Luxon is French President Emmanuel Macron (61%), Albanese (60%), Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (60%), Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy (59%) and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (59%).
On the bottom of the list is North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who only received confidence from 4% of respondents. He’s below Russian President Vladimir Putin (8%), Jinping (16%), and Trump (25%).
The Lowy Institute’s report notes that Luxon’s two predecessors as Prime Minister – Chris Hipkins and Jacinda Ardern – both previously topped the poll.
In 2023, Hipkins had a confidence rating of 72%, while Ardern’s was 87% in 2022. In 2021, a massive 91% of people had confidence in Ardern’s handling of foreign affairs.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon heads overseas this week. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters told the Herald on Monday afternoon the Prime Minister’s “adherence to the advice he has got from foreign affairs has been very, very, very well received, both in this country and worldwide”.
Asked who provided that advice, Peters responded: “He’s getting it from yours truly”.
“I know what advice goes up there and we do our best to listen, not to rush to judgement, to be very, very decisive in our caution, and I think the Prime Minister has followed that line.”
The report also finds that Australians felt the most “warm” towards New Zealand, though New Zealand has held the top spot every year this question has been asked.
One question asked of participants was what country or territory comes closest to implementing their ideal form of government. Australia comes out on top, mentioned by 24% of respondents, followed by New Zealand (9%).
The poll’s methodology says it surveyed 2117 Australians between March 3 and 16. It has a margin of error of approximately 2.1%.
Following that, Luxon will visit Brussels and the Hague for a series of bilateral meetings as well as the Nato Summit. While New Zealand is not a full member of Nato, it participates on the sideline as a member of the Indo-Pacific Four.
The trip also comes amid military action between Israel and Iran, which Luxon last week said could be “potentially catastrophic” for the region. He’s called on countries involved to use diplomacy rather than military means to settle issues.
Jamie Ensor is a political reporter in theNZ HeraldPress Gallery team based at Parliament. He was previously a TV reporter and digital producer in the Newshub Press Gallery office. In 2025, he was a finalist for Political Journalist of the Year at the Voyager Media Awards.
