Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Auckland on Friday for a two-day visit to New Zealand, marking the final leg of his three-nation tour. In a special gesture, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon personally received him at the airport, where the two leaders shared a warm greeting. India’s High Commissioner to New Zealand, Muanpuii Saiawi, and other officials were also present to welcome the Prime Minister. The visit is the first by an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand in nearly 40 years.
During the visit, Prime Minister Modi will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Luxon to review the full spectrum of India-New Zealand relations, with discussions expected to focus on trade, investment, defence, and other areas of strategic cooperation. He is also scheduled to meet leading business and sports personalities and address a large gathering of the Indian diaspora in New Zealand.
The visit follows Prime Minister Luxon’s trip to India earlier this year and comes shortly after the signing of the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA). New Zealand Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay described the visit as a landmark moment in bilateral ties, highlighting the growing economic partnership and the significant contribution of the Indian community, which is now the country’s third-largest ethnic group.
