PM Modi lands in New Zealand for first Indian leader visit in 40 years; trade, defence on agenda

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Auckland on Friday for a two-day visit to New Zealand, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the country in four decades. He was received at the airport by New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.

In a social media post after arrival, PM Modi thanked his counterpart for the welcome and described the trip as historic, noting that it is the first prime ministerial visit from India since 1985. He expressed hope that the visit would strengthen bilateral ties.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, PM Modi and PM Luxon will hold discussions covering the full spectrum of India-New Zealand relations, with a particular focus on trade, commerce and defence cooperation. The visit follows the signing of a Free Trade Agreement between the two countries in April 2025, which both sides expect to boost economic engagement.

During his stay, PM Modi is scheduled to interact with business leaders and sports personalities, and address a large gathering of the Indian diaspora in Auckland. The diaspora event underscores the strong people-to-people ties that form a key pillar of bilateral relations.

The New Zealand leg is the final stop of PM Modi's three-nation tour. He concluded a visit to Australia earlier this week, where he attended the third Australia-India Annual Leaders' Summit with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. In a departure statement, PM Modi thanked the Australian government and people for their hospitality and said the visit had opened new avenues for cooperation across sectors.

PM Modi's visit to New Zealand builds on the momentum generated by PM Luxon's visit to India in March 2025 and the recent Free Trade Agreement. The two leaders are expected to discuss ways to further deepen economic ties and explore opportunities in defence and strategic cooperation.