Byline: BuzzBytes News Desk
Highlights:
– India and New Zealand elevated their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon holding wide-ranging talks in Auckland.
– The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the early implementation of the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement and set a target of doubling bilateral trade by 2030.
– The Prime Ministers witnessed the exchange of several MoUs covering defence and maritime security, sports, disaster management, dairy, tourism, culture and ocean research.
– Modi addressed more than 10,000 members of the Indian diaspora at the “Kia Ora Modi” event in Auckland, noting that 2026 marks 100 years of India–New Zealand sporting engagement.
Auckland/New Delhi, July 11: India and New Zealand on Saturday elevated their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon holding wide-ranging talks in Auckland and outlining an ambitious roadmap to strengthen cooperation across trade, defence, security, sports, education, agriculture, tourism and cultural exchanges.
Prime Minister Modi received a traditional Māori welcome and a Guard of Honour at Government House before holding delegation-level and restricted talks with Prime Minister Luxon. The two leaders agreed to deepen cooperation across areas of mutual interest and reaffirmed their commitment to the early implementation of the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which they said would create new opportunities for businesses, farmers and youth in both countries. They also set a target of doubling bilateral trade by 2030.
Following the talks, the two Prime Ministers witnessed the exchange of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements covering defence and maritime security, hydrography, sports, disaster management, dairy, tourism, maritime heritage, culture, food technology and ocean research. The leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments and reiterated their commitment to strengthening cooperation in multilateral forums.
Earlier, Prime Minister Modi attended a special gala luncheon hosted by Prime Minister Luxon under the theme “India–New Zealand: A Winning Partnership.” The event brought together prominent personalities from politics, business, industry, academia, technology, sports and the arts. During the programme, the two leaders also toured an exhibition of innovative sports equipment and interacted with leading athletes and stakeholders in high-performance sports.
Highlighting the century-old sporting relationship between the two countries, Prime Minister Modi said the Sports Joint Action Plan concluded during the visit would expand cooperation beyond cricket and strengthen sporting ties as India prepares to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
Later, addressing more than 10,000 members of the Indian diaspora at the “Kia Ora Modi” community event in Auckland, Prime Minister Modi thanked Prime Minister Luxon for joining the celebrations and for his continued support to the Indian community in New Zealand.
Describing the gathering as a celebration of the enduring friendship between India and New Zealand, Modi praised the Indian diaspora for its hard work, achievements and contribution to New Zealand’s multicultural society. He commended the community for preserving Indian traditions while embracing New Zealand’s diversity and appreciated its commitment to selfless service and community welfare.
The Prime Minister also noted that 2026 marks 100 years of sporting engagement between India and New Zealand and expressed confidence that cooperation in sports, trade and innovation would continue to grow. Appreciating the inclusive values of Māori culture, he said India too believes in balancing heritage with development.
Calling upon the Indian community to act as a bridge between the two nations, Prime Minister Modi urged them to strengthen friendship, trust and cooperation and help realise the full potential of the newly established Strategic Partnership.
Prime Minister Modi thanked Prime Minister Christopher Luxon for the warm hospitality extended during the visit and invited him to visit India.
