India‑New Zealand strategic partnership signed during Modi’s visit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in New Zealand on July 11‑12 2026, the first Indian prime minister to do so in four decades, as the final leg of a three‑nation tour. During meetings with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, the two countries elevated their relationship to a Strategic Partnership. Eighteen agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed covering defence and maritime security, trade, agriculture, technology, sports, education, tourism and disaster management. The joint “Roadmap to 2030” sets a target to double bilateral trade in goods and services to ₹35,000 crore (about US$4 billion or NZ$7 billion) by 2030. India pledged US$20 billion of investment in New Zealand over the next 15 years, while New Zealand committed to increase its investment in India. The leaders also launched a Maritime Cooperation Arrangement, a Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement and a Sports Joint Action Plan, and agreed to hold an annual maritime security dialogue. The visit featured a traditional Māori welcome, a sports showcase, a large gathering of the Indian diaspora, and small Sikh‑led protests. New Zealand’s Luxon praised India’s recent poverty‑reduction and middle‑class growth. Modi also recalled a personal anecdote about a scarf gifted to him during an earlier visit to New Zealand, highlighting the long‑standing people‑to‑people ties.