Addressing a special media briefing in Auckland, Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs Rudrendra Tandon said both countries were working to build on shared cultural values, particularly their respect for indigenous traditions and their close relationship with nature.
"Traditional medicine and celebrating indigenous cultures, and people-to-people connect will be an important underpinning of the relationship," Tandon said.
The focus on traditional healthcare follows the landmark India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement signed in April 2026, which includes a dedicated Health and Traditional Medicine Annexe. The framework recognises India's traditional medicine systems alongside New Zealand's indigenous Maori health practices, creating opportunities for cooperation, practitioner mobility, education, trade, and institutional partnerships in holistic healthcare.
Tandon said the collaboration brings together the traditional healthcare knowledge of both countries within a modern economic and healthcare framework. New Zealand has agreed to dedicated provisions under the agreement to facilitate cooperation in areas including Ayurveda, Yoga, and other Indian traditional health disciplines along with Maori health practices.
"One of the things we are doing this time is that we are focusing on traditional medicine. As you know, the Prime Minister has always believed that traditional medicine in a public healthcare system is a very important preventive healthcare," Tandon said.
He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had highlighted the similarities between Indian heritage and New Zealand's indigenous traditions during his high-level engagements, including the celebration of the Maori New Year, Matariki.
"Collaboration between New Zealand's ancient Maori culture and India's own traditional medicine is a very exciting area of cooperation and very relevant to contemporary times. This is certainly something that the Prime Minister himself is very interested in promoting, and it is also a very exciting area for developing the relationship forward," Tandon said.
Discussing the broader strategic importance of the partnership, Tandon said New Zealand holds a significant position in India's Indo-Pacific outlook.
"India is an Indian Ocean country. We are very attentive to what happens in adjoining maritime zones. The Pacific is a very important maritime zone for us. We've always considered New Zealand to be a very important power in this region, and a like-minded power," he said.
Tandon credited New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon with bringing renewed momentum to bilateral relations, which have now been elevated to a Strategic Partnership.
"Prime Minister Luxon has been working very hard to impart this new energy to the relationship, which is now a strategic relationship, precisely because of the idea that, as an inhabitant of the Indian Ocean and you as an inhabitant of the Pacific Ocean, we need to establish a close strategic relationship," he said.
He also highlighted the economic opportunities arising from closer cooperation between the two countries, stating that India's large and growing market combined with New Zealand's advanced economy and technological capabilities provides a strong foundation for expanded economic engagement.
"There is a significant economic dimension to this relationship. We are a large, growing market; there is considerable opportunity. You are an advanced economy with advanced technology. We are always looking to forge partnerships with that. We have a very good basis for building an exciting economic relationship," Tandon said.
Responding to questions regarding the monitoring of New Zealand's proposed facilitation of USD 20 billion in investment, Tandon expressed confidence that the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement would itself generate strong incentives for investors.
"The Prime Minister made it very clear that this is a long-term partnership. My suspicion is that when the India-New Zealand FTA is ratified and starts getting implemented, the opportunities will be so attractive. India is a very attractive investment destination in the emerging market space. So I suspect that monitoring will not really be required. But of course, it is part of the understandings we arrived at while drafting the FTA," he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a two-day official visit to New Zealand from July 10-11 at the invitation of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. The visit marks the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand in 40 years. During the visit, both countries elevated their ties to a Strategic Partnership and adopted a Roadmap to 2030 aimed at expanding cooperation in trade, defence, technology, security, and regional affairs.
The strengthened partnership reflects a broader effort by India and New Zealand to combine cultural cooperation, economic opportunities, and strategic coordination, creating a long-term framework for deeper engagement across multiple sectors.
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