Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets his New Zealand counterpart, Christopher Luxon, in New Delhi in March 2025. Officials are planning a reciprocal trip later this year.
Photo: Piyal Bhattacharya / The Times of India via AFP
Preparations are underway for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s maiden visit to New Zealand, with officials on both sides signalling growing momentum behind the long-anticipated trip.
Fresh details about the visit have emerged after Trade Minister Todd McClay met his Indian counterpart, Piyush Goyal, on the sidelines of a World Trade Organization ministerial conference in Cameroon on Sunday, with discussions focusing on trade ties and preparations for Modi’s visit.
While no official dates have been confirmed, RNZ understands planning is underway for a Modi visit around the middle of the year.
“The ministers briefly reviewed preparations for the upcoming New Zealand visit of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi,” the statement from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said.
“Expressing high enthusiasm for this visit, New Zealand confirmed that a substantial list of deliverables [is] currently being finalised by both sides for this visit.”
The ministry also said New Zealand would host a high-level business delegation during Modi’s visit.
“Both sides also reviewed the progress toward the signing of the recently concluded India-New Zealand FTA,” the ministry said.
New Zealand confirmed the conclusion of free trade negotiations with India in December last year, but coalition partner New Zealand First withheld its support.
The party invoked an “agree to disagree” clause in its coalition agreement with the National Party, with leader Winston Peters calling the deal “neither free nor fair”.
As a result, the government needs support from the opposition to pass the agreement.
In February, McClay said political backing for the NZ-India free trade agreement was getting closer.
However, the Labour Party said stronger protections for migrant workers must be included in the deal before it would lend its support.