Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Indian community in Auckland during his visit to New Zealand and shared his personal memories while speaking about the relationship between India and New Zealand. He said that an Indian Prime Minister had visited New Zealand after nearly 40 years. Prime Minister Modi stated that this was his first visit to New Zealand since becoming Prime Minister, although he had also visited the country 25–30 years ago when he was not part of any government.
Addressing a large gathering of the Indian diaspora, the Prime Minister spoke about the historical ties, economic cooperation, cultural connections, and India's development journey. He reaffirmed India's commitment to taking bilateral relations with New Zealand to higher levels and said that cooperation between the two countries would continue to expand in the coming years.
The Prime Minister appreciated the contribution of the Indian community, stating that members of the Indian diaspora serve as an important bridge in strengthening relations between India and New Zealand. He said that people of Indian origin contribute actively to the development of the countries in which they live while remaining connected to their cultural roots.
Referring to the Māori tradition of "Waka," the Prime Minister described it as a symbol of the shared journey between India and New Zealand. He said the two countries have broad opportunities for cooperation in trade, education, innovation, agriculture, science, and technology.
He expressed confidence that partnerships between the people of both countries would further strengthen bilateral ties and create new economic and strategic opportunities in the future.
Highlighting the achievements of the Indian community in New Zealand, the Prime Minister said that people of Indian origin have made notable contributions in education, business, science, public life, sports, and various professional fields. He stated that the greatest strength of any country is its people and said New Zealand has demonstrated an inclusive society by embracing diversity. He added that the Indian community has become an important part of the country's social and economic development.
The Prime Minister also referred to people of Indian origin who have assumed leadership roles in different sectors in New Zealand and contributed to strengthening ties between the two countries.
Speaking about India's development, Prime Minister Modi said that despite being a civilisation with thousands of years of history, India has rapidly embraced modern technology and innovation. He said India is preserving its cultural heritage while giving equal importance to digital transformation, technological advancement, and economic reforms. According to him, India's development model seeks to maintain a balance between tradition and modernity.
The Prime Minister also referred to India's initiatives related to women's participation, rural development, and sustainable agriculture. He said India continues to improve its policies by learning from successful experiences of countries around the world.
Highlighting India's economic progress, the Prime Minister said that despite global economic challenges, India remains among the world's fastest-growing major economies. He referred to India's achievements in digital payments, mobile manufacturing, the space programme, drone technology, and innovation. He said the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has simplified financial transactions and helped India establish a growing global presence in the digital economy. He also said environmental protection, natural farming, and sustainable development remain among India's priorities.
Prime Minister Modi stressed the need to further strengthen economic cooperation between India and New Zealand. He said there is considerable scope for collaboration in trade, investment, agriculture, food processing, education, startups, innovation, and the space sector. He expressed confidence that future economic agreements would create new opportunities for industries and businesses in both countries and further boost bilateral trade.
The Prime Minister also referred to sporting ties between India and New Zealand, stating that the two countries share a long history of cooperation in sports. He mentioned the b connections through hockey and cricket and emphasised strengthening people-to-people ties through sports. In addition, he described the preservation of cultural heritage as a shared commitment and said that both India and New Zealand are moving forward with modern development while respecting their respective indigenous traditions.
