PM Modi gets special welcome in Auckland — New Zealand’s iconic Sky Tower lights up in tricolor | WATCH | Today’s news
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in New Zealand on Friday for the final leg of his three-nation visit, during which he will hold talks with his counterpart Christopher Luxon and address the Indian diaspora.
This is the first visit to New Zealand by an Indian Prime Minister in 40 years.
Modi was received by Luxon at the airport where the two leaders exchanged a warm hug.
“We arrived in Auckland a while ago. Thank you Prime Minister Luxon for the welcome at the airport,” Modi said in a post on X.
“This visit is historic, the first visit by a Prime Minister to New Zealand in four decades. I look forward to meeting Prime Minister Luxon and discussing the full breadth of India-New Zealand friendship. I will also be in Auckland tomorrow to speak on a community agenda,” he said.
In a post on X, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said: “This historic visit is to strengthen bilateral ties and open new avenues of cooperation in several fields, particularly trade, defence, sports, culture, education and people-to-people exchanges.
The MEA called it a “special welcome to Auckland!” and the MEA, in another post on X, said the iconic Sky Tower was illuminated to mark Modi’s visit to New Zealand, “symbolizing the friendship between our two countries”.
In his departure statement in New Delhi, the Prime Minister said his visit would “meaningfully build” on the strong momentum of India-New Zealand ties, building on Luxon’s visit to India in March 2025.
Modi said his visit to Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand will further strengthen India’s Act East Policy, MAHASAGAR Vision, as well as its prospects for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
During his two-day visit to New Zealand, he will discuss ways to further strengthen economic, trade and business engagements with Luxon.
He will also address the Indian diaspora as part of the community programme.
Modi arrived in New Zealand after concluding a three-day visit to Australia, where he held a summit with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and the two leaders reinforced the vital role of the bilateral partnership in ensuring a peaceful Indo-Pacific environment.
The main highlight of the summit talks between the two leaders was their focus on significantly strengthening defense ties, especially in the maritime domain.
After more than two years of negotiations, a deal on civil nuclear power has been reached to facilitate the commercial supply of uranium from Australia to India to fuel nuclear projects in New Delhi.
Modi was earlier in Indonesia where 14 agreements were signed to promote cooperation in critical minerals, maritime security and other key sectors.
