Prime Minister Narendra Modi was given a traditional Māori pōhiri ceremonial welcome at Government House in Auckland on Saturday (local time), reflecting New Zealand’s rich indigenous heritage and cultural traditions.
Sharing the update on
The welcome ceremony was followed by bilateral talks between Prime Minister Modi and his New Zealand counterpart, Christopher Luxon.
Later today, the Prime Minister is scheduled to interact with prominent business and sports figures. In a reflection of the strong people-to-people ties between India and New Zealand, the Prime Minister will also address a large gathering of the Indian community, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
On Friday, soon after his arrival in Auckland, Prime Minister Modi described his visit as “historic”. In a post on X, the Prime Minister thanked Luxon for welcoming him at the airport and emphasized that this is the first visit of an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand in four decades.
“I arrived in Auckland a short while ago. Thank you to Prime Minister Luxon for the welcome at the airport. This visit is historic, as it is the first visit by a Prime Minister to New Zealand in four decades,” he wrote.
Prime Minister Modi arrived in Auckland on Friday and was received by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who shared a warm hug with him. This visit comes at the invitation of Prime Minister Luxon.
Following the signing of the Free Trade Agreement in April this year, this visit is expected to serve as a catalyst to generate further momentum in trade and bilateral relations. The two leaders previously held a bilateral meeting in New Delhi on March 17, 2025, during Prime Minister Luxon’s official visit to India. (that I)
