Nearly 300,000 strong Indian diaspora are eagerly awaiting the visit of India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi to New Zealand whose arrival dates were confirmed just a couple of days back.
He will visit New Zealand for a state visit from 10-11 July, 2026 at the invitation of the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Christopher Luxon. He will be arriving from Melbourne, Australia.
This will be the first state visit of an Indian Prime Minister to this country in four decades. In Auckland, Indian Prime Minister Modi will hold bilateral discussions with Luxon and is expected to review the bilateral relationship, which has seen significant progress in the last two years, especially in the areas of trade and commerce and defence.
While in Auckland, Indian Prime Minister Modi will also interact with some business and sports personalities, and later address a gathering of the Indian diaspora.
India ranks as New Zealand’s 11th-largest two-way trading partner, representing 1.8% of New Zealand’s total exports.
For New Zealand, India is an increasingly vital trading partner, with two-way total trade amounting to NZ$3.95 billion annually. Bilateral ties were significantly strengthened when the two nations signed a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on 27 April 2026, which delivers immediate tariff-free access for many key Kiwi exports while deepening economic integration.
Over 57% of New Zealand’s exports became tariff-free from day one, including forestry products, sheep meat, and wool.
Total exports from New Zealand to India are valued at roughly NZ$2.03 billion, while India’s trade footprint in New Zealand primarily features services and consumer goods.
The visit of the Indian prime minister will significantly alter New Zealand’s trade landscape as it is one of the world’s largest and fastest growing economies and has the world’s largest population.
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