India and New Zealand have opened a broader strategic chapter in their relationship, combining an ambitious trade target with deeper cooperation on terrorism, defence, maritime security, technology and connectivity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon on Saturday elevated bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership and adopted a Roadmap to 2030 during talks in Auckland. The two countries aim to raise two-way trade in goods and services to NZ$7 billion by the end of the decade while creating new mechanisms for security and diplomatic engagement.
The meeting came during the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand in 40 years. Modi described the two democracies as “natural partners” and said the visit would inject new energy into a relationship that has gained pace over the past year.
Sharing my remarks during meeting with PM Christopher Luxon.@chrisluxonmp https://t.co/khsJEDiDpC
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 11, 2026
India-New Zealand Strategic Partnership: Key takeaways
The new framework covers six broad areas:
- Political and diplomatic engagement
- Defence and security cooperation
- Trade and economic relations
- Education, research and innovation
- People-to-people connections
- Regional and multilateral cooperation
The roadmap proposes regular meetings between the two Prime Ministers, Cabinet ministers and senior officials. It also seeks stronger foreign minister-level dialogue, parliamentary exchanges and annual consultations between the foreign ministries.
The document is intended to guide joint action until 2030. It does not create legally binding obligations or automatic financial commitments.
#WATCH | Auckland, New Zealand: At the ‘Gala Lunch’ in his honour hosted by New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, PM Narendra Modi says, “This is the beginning of a new chapter in our relations. India and New Zealand’s strong belief in democratic values provide us natural… pic.twitter.com/awE4Bw2NBo
— ANI (@ANI) July 11, 2026
PM Modi and Luxon set NZ$7 billion trade target
Trade emerged as one of the central pillars of the Auckland talks, with both sides setting an aspirational target of doubling bilateral trade in goods and services to NZ$7 billion, or roughly ₹35,000 crore, by 2030.
PM Modi said trade between the two countries had grown by more than 50 per cent over the past three years. He expressed confidence that the bilateral Free Trade Agreement would provide the foundation for another major expansion over the next five years.
“This year, we signed the Free Trade Agreement in record time. With this achievement, new doors will open for industries in both countries, farmers and youth,” PM Modi said.
“With trade, we are preparing the blueprint for trust, technology and talent. In the last 3 years, there has been more than 50 per cent increase in our trade. We are confident that in the next 5 years, FTA will be a strong foundation to double our trade.”
At the India-New Zealand business event in Auckland, which I attended with PM Luxon, I told business leaders:
India is not only a market.
India is a launchpad for global growth.
Together, let us take this economic partnership to new heights!@chrisluxonmp pic.twitter.com/8M53Lx47zh
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 11, 2026
India and New Zealand signed the FTA in New Delhi on April 27, 2026. The agreement has been concluded but is not yet in force, with the two sides now working towards its implementation. New Zealand’s foreign ministry currently places annual two-way trade at NZ$3.95 billion.
The broader economic agenda includes agriculture, horticulture, forestry, animal husbandry, dairy and food processing. Both countries plan to expand joint research, technical exchanges, innovation and market-development initiatives in these sectors.
Counter-terrorism group to deepen security cooperation
India and New Zealand also agreed to establish a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, giving the two countries a dedicated platform for sharing information, expertise and institutional knowledge.
PM Modi said the two sides had decided to confront terrorism “shoulder to shoulder”.
“To move forward shoulder to shoulder on the issue of terrorism, we have formed a Joint Working Group today,” he said.
The two Prime Ministers condemned terrorism in all its forms, including cross-border terrorism. They called for terror infrastructure and financing networks to be dismantled and for those responsible for attacks to be brought to justice.
Their joint position also called for sustained international action against organisations proscribed by the United Nations, as well as their affiliates, financiers, sponsors and proxies.
The roadmap proposes stronger cooperation at the United Nations and the Financial Action Task Force. It also envisages agreements to combat narcotics trafficking and closer law enforcement cooperation between India’s National Investigation Agency and the New Zealand Police.
Defence exercises and maritime security dialogue planned
The Strategic Partnership is expected to widen defence engagement through military exercises, visits by naval, air and land units, personnel exchanges and interactions between defence training institutions.
India and New Zealand also plan to maintain structured discussions between their defence ministries and armed services under their 2025 Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation.
An annual Maritime Security Dialogue is proposed under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative. The two countries will also explore stronger collaboration in cybersecurity.
Both leaders reaffirmed their support for a free, open, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific where sovereignty, territorial integrity and international law are respected.
They also backed freedom of navigation and overflight and called for disputes to be resolved through dialogue and established principles of international law.
New Zealand backs India’s permanent UNSC membership
New Zealand reiterated its support for India becoming a permanent member of a reformed and expanded United Nations Security Council.
The two leaders called for changes to global institutions, including an expansion of both the permanent and non-permanent categories of the Security Council.
“India and New Zealand are reliable partners and close friends,” PM Modi said. “We believe that to face the challenges of the current times, reform is necessary in global institutions, including the UN.”
The roadmap also calls for coordination in ASEAN-led and other regional forums, cooperation on resilient supply chains and continued engagement on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
Direct flights, tourism and UPI connectivity on agenda
The partnership seeks to make travel and commercial exchanges easier by encouraging airlines to consider direct non-stop services between India and New Zealand.
Both countries agreed to promote two-way visitor flows under their tourism arrangement and updated air services framework.
In financial technology, PM Modi said the two sides were working towards connecting India’s Unified Payments Interface with New Zealand’s payment system.
“To make our Strategic Partnership meaningful, we are turning the strengths of both countries into practical cooperation,” he said.
Education and research are another major part of the roadmap. India and New Zealand will implement their 2025 Education Cooperation Arrangement and promote partnerships between universities and other institutions.
The two countries also plan joint work in agriculture, climate change, digital transformation, renewable energy, sustainable development and emerging technologies.
Cooperation between India’s National Disaster Management Authority and New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency is expected to cover preparedness, emergency response and capacity-building.
Sports plan targets coaching, science and youth development
India and New Zealand have also adopted a joint action plan covering sport, an area where the two countries already share strong public interest.
Luxon said the initiative would deepen cooperation in coaching, youth sport, women’s sport, elite performance, sports science, technology, tourism and business.
“It transforms our shared passion into a much deeper cooperation,” the New Zealand Prime Minister said.
The roadmap also seeks more cultural exchanges, partnerships between local governments and cooperation in traditional medicine.
Both sides acknowledged the role of the Indian diaspora in strengthening business, education, healthcare, technology, sport and cultural ties.
Luxon described Indian New Zealanders as central to the relationship, saying they helped each country better understand the other.
Luxon praises India’s economic transformation
Addressing business leaders in Auckland, Luxon described himself as a long-time admirer of India and praised the scale of the country’s economic transformation.
He recalled visiting India while working for Unilever in the 1990s and contrasted those experiences with the country’s current growth.
Luxon attributed the lifting of 250 million people out of poverty to Modi’s leadership. He also claimed that India’s middle class had reached 440 million and could grow to 750 million by the end of the decade.
“It is an incredible transformation,” he said.
The figures were cited by Luxon during his address and were not independently substantiated in the material accompanying the event.
He urged New Zealand companies to study India’s consumers, find local partners and adapt their products and services for the market.
“Get on a plane and go learn about the Indian consumer,” he told New Zealand business leaders.
Luxon identified agriculture, food, education, tourism and technology as areas with substantial room for commercial growth.
‘It is as if we are made for each other’: PM Modi
PM Modi said the shared democratic values of India and New Zealand made them natural partners with the ability to contribute to stability in the Indo-Pacific.
“Our democratic values and shared beliefs make us natural partners. It is as if we are made for each other,” he said.
“As two maritime nations, we can contribute to giving the Indo-Pacific greater strength, and our partnership can inject new energy into efforts aimed at global peace.”
Luxon used the timing of Modi’s visit, which coincided with the Māori New Year of Matariki, to underline the cultural connections between the two countries.
The same star cluster is known as Krittika in Indian tradition.
“Though called by different names, we share the same stars and we share the same hope for prosperity and renewal,” Luxon said.
First Indian Prime Minister to visit New Zealand in 40 years
PM Modi thanked Luxon for personally receiving him at the airport and said the reception reflected the warmth between the two countries.
“For me, it is a matter of great happiness that after 40 years, an Indian Prime Minister has come to New Zealand,” he said.
The Prime Minister arrived in Auckland on Friday on the final leg of a three-country tour that also included Indonesia and Australia. His New Zealand programme ran from July 10 to 11 at Luxon’s invitation.
The two leaders also witnessed the exchange of agreements covering several areas of bilateral cooperation.
PM Modi said the Strategic Partnership would give the relationship clearer goals and measurable outcomes. Luxon called it a stronger platform for cooperation in prosperity, security and people-to-people connections.
“Today we can confidently say that New Zealand and India are a winning partnership,” Luxon said.