In a special diplomatic gesture, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon personally saw off Prime Minister Modi at the airport following the conclusion of the visit.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Prime Minister's visit to New Zealand had significantly strengthened bilateral relations and produced substantial outcomes. In a post on X, Jaiswal said the visit deepened bonds, strengthened partnerships and shaped a shared future. He stated that after concluding substantive discussions and overseeing a key set of outcomes in New Zealand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for India. He added that Prime Minister Luxon personally saw him off at the airport and noted that the three-country tour of Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand delivered significant outcomes advancing cooperation across trade, technology, security, education, innovation and people-to-people exchanges, among other sectors.
During the visit, Prime Minister Modi held delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Luxon at Government House in Auckland after receiving a traditional Māori welcome and inspecting a Guard of Honour.
The two leaders reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, with discussions covering trade and investment, defence and security, agricultural technology, sports, education, tourism, culture and people-to-people exchanges.
The most significant outcome of the meeting was the decision to elevate India-New Zealand relations to the level of a Strategic Partnership, marking a new phase in bilateral cooperation. The two Prime Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to expanding collaboration across areas of mutual interest and stressed the importance of the early implementation of the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement.
Both leaders also set an ambitious target of doubling bilateral trade by 2030. They exchanged views on regional and global developments and reiterated their commitment to strengthening cooperation in multilateral forums.
Following the talks, Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Luxon witnessed the exchange of several Memoranda of Understanding and other agreements covering defence and maritime security, hydrography, sports, disaster management, dairy, tourism, maritime heritage, culture, food technology and ocean research. The two sides also adopted a Joint Statement outlining the roadmap for the future of the Strategic Partnership.
Prime Minister Modi thanked Prime Minister Luxon for the warm hospitality extended during the visit and invited him to visit India.
The New Zealand visit marked the final stop of Prime Minister Modi's three-nation tour. The visits to Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand significantly expanded India's engagement across trade, technology, security, innovation, education and people-to-people ties, while the elevation of India-New Zealand relations to a Strategic Partnership emerged as the defining outcome of the diplomatic tour, laying the foundation for deeper cooperation in the years ahead.
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