Trade ‘high priority’ for Johnson

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern a free trade deal with New Zealand would be a ‘‘high priority’’ after Brexit.

Johnson and Ardern spoke for around 15 minutes by phone on Monday night, their first proper conversation, which Ardern used to congratulate Johnson on becoming the United Kingdom’s new leader.

It’s understood Johnson spoke so enthusiastically about the possibility of a free trade deal with New Zealand that the Government believes it is likely to happen faster than it was with his predecessor Theresa May in office.

New Zealand was left out in the cold by the UK when the country first joined the predecessor of the European Union (EU) in 1973.

‘‘Our discussion focused on securing a free trade deal between our countries and prime minister Johnson said New Zealand was a high priority for negotiations following Brexit, which is very good news for our exporters and economy,’’ Ardern said.

‘‘We also discussed next steps in the Christchurch Call and ending terrorist content online, climate change and other issues of shared interest, as well as getting an update on the UK’S progress on Brexit.’’

Ardern said the pair hoped to meet in September at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. ‘‘We both agreed we wanted to catch up in person . . . in September and I hope we can make that happen,’’ she said.

Johnson visited New Zealand in 2017 as Britain’s foreign secretary and has met with Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters in London.

He resigned his post as foreign secretary over then-prime minister Theresa May’s handling of Brexit negotiations.

Ructions over those negotiations eventually caused May herself to resign, sparking a leadership contest in the ruling Conservative Party, which Johnson won handily.

He has promised an even firmer line on Brexit than his predecessor, telling the public the UK would leave by the end of October with or without an EU ‘‘deal’’.

Ironically, New Zealand is also looking to negotiate a free trade deal with the EU, which would be a much larger prize.

GETTY IMAGES Winston Peters, right, is said to have an excellent relationship with Boris Johnson, now Britain’s prime minister. The pair visited Winston Churchill’s war rooms together in London.