PM Modi lands in Auckland to conclude the three-nation diplomatic tour
Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives a warm welcome from the Indian diaspora during his visit to Auckland, New Zealand. Image credit: X/@narendramodi
New Delhi: The prime minister, Narendra Modi, reached Auckland on Friday to conclude his three-nation diplomatic tour, after concluding a two-day visit to Australia. Modi called the visit “historic” and said he looked forward to holding talks with his New Zealand counterpart, Christopher Luxon, on the full range of the India-New Zealand relationship.
On Saturday, Modi will begin his schedule in Auckland with meetings at government house, followed by a sports and business event at the Viaduct Business Centre. He will then address the Indian community before leaving for New Delhi later in the afternoon.
Before departing Melbourne, Modi visited the Melbourne Cricket Ground alongside Australia’s prime minister, Anthony Albanese, where the two leaders paid tribute to the late cricketer Shane Warne at the stand named in his honour. During the visit, Albanese announced Australia’s support for India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games.
Modi’s Australia visit concluded with India and Australia signing a set of agreements covering civil nuclear energy, defence, maritime security, critical minerals, cyber cooperation and trade. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the comprehensive strategic partnership and to strengthening cooperation for a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific.
This visit to New Zealand comes months after India and New Zealand concluded negotiations on a free trade agreement in December 2025, which was formally signed in April 2026 and is now awaiting ratification by both countries parliaments. Modi and Luxon are expected to discuss trade implementation, defence cooperation, Indo-Pacific security, supply chains, critical minerals and education during their meeting.
Auckland is home to New Zealand’s largest Indian community and Modi is scheduled to address a community event titled “Kia Ora Modi,” which organizers expect to draw over 10,000 attendees. The visit will also include an event marking 100 years of sporting relations between the two countries.
Under the new FTA, New Zealand will eliminate tariffs on all Indian imports, while 95% of New Zealand’s exports will get tariff-free or reduced-tariff access to India, though India has largely kept dairy out of the agreement. Bilateral trade between the two countries stood at NZ$3.68 billion in the year ending June 2025, with India ranking as New Zealand’s 21st-largest goods export market and fifth-largest services export market.
