Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull arrives in Queenstown later this morning for a day of talks with Bill English.

The pair have met each other but today's formal and fleeting 23-hour catch-up is their first official engagement and comes at a time of international challenges following the election of Donald Trump as US president.

Newstalk ZB political editor Barry Soper is in the resort town and said the annual get together is unlikely to lead to any major decisions, even though they’ve got plenty to chat about.

"Mr English will be hoping to pick up where John Key left off when it comes to the warmth of their relationship," Soper said.

"There’s the hardy annual of the way tax paying Kiwis are treated across the ditch being denied welfare and health care there.

"There’s the deportation of Kiwis criminals, many of whom have lived in Australia for many years."

The Trans Pacific Partnership and where to from here following the withdrawal of the United States will also be high on the agenda, although the Australians have yet to have it signed off by their senate.