New Zealand, India to sign long-awaited free trade agreement next week,

New Delhi: New Zealand's long-awaited free trade agreement with India will be signed next week, marking a major milestone in trade relations between the two countries.

Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay confirmed legal verification of the agreement has been completed, with both governments agreeing to formally sign the deal on April 27 in New Delhi.

The agreement, first concluded in December, would give New Zealand exporters access to a market of around 1.4 billion people, in what the Government has called a "once-in-a-generation'' opportunity.

McClay said the deal would eliminate or reduce tariffs on 95 percent of New Zealand exports to India, which he says is one of the highest levels secured in any Indian trade agreement.

He said more than half of exports, including lamb, wool and many forestry products, would become duty-free immediately, rising to 82 percent over time.

McClay said the agreement would help level the playing field for New Zealand exporters competing in India, where other countries already benefit from lower tariffs.

''This allows New Zealand businesses to compete on equal footing in one of the world's fastest-growing economies."

The signing would trigger the formal parliamentary process, with the full text of the agreement and a national interest analysis to be tabled in Parliament and reviewed by a select committee.

The public would also be able to make submissions before any enabling legislation was passed.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins accused the Government of ''playing politics'' with trade policy, adding that it did not currently have majority support in Parliament for the agreement.

"Signing a free trade agreement without majority backing would be recklessly irresponsible," he said.

Hipkins said Labour wanted to ensure the deal did not leave New Zealand worse off.

McClay rejected that criticism, saying the process followed the same pathway used for previous agreements and did not force parties to support it.

He said there had been extensive engagement with opposition parties and coalition partners and that scrutiny through Parliament would allow all New Zealanders to assess the deal.