New Zealand, India upgrade ties as PM Modi visits Auckland

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon upgraded their nations' ​diplomatic ties on Saturday, as Modi seeks to ‌bolster New Delhi's ties in the Asia-Pacific region.

The leaders elevated bilateral relations to a "strategic partnership" during talks in Auckland, reflecting their ​nations' "shared democratic values, deep people-to-people links, and shared ​interests in the Indo-Pacific", they said in a ⁠statement.

Modi, who arrived on Friday night after signing ​deals with Indonesia and Australia, is to address an Indian diaspora ​event at an Auckland arena later on Saturday, public broadcaster Radio New Zealand reported.

The first visit by an Indian prime minister to ​New Zealand in 40 years comes amid rising ​anti-Indian sentiment in New Zealand and tensions in its ruling coalition ‌caused ⁠by a free-trade agreement between the two nations.

The two countries have also moved closer on security, signing a defence cooperation arrangement and pledging greater collaboration on maritime ​safety, reflecting shared ​concerns about ⁠stability in the Indo-Pacific.

However, rising Indian migration has made the community a flashpoint in ​New Zealand's immigration debate, with Indian New ​Zealanders ⁠reporting more racial abuse while politicians including Winston Peters' New Zealand First party push for tighter migrant controls.

About ⁠292,000 ​of New Zealand's 5.3 million people ​identified as Indian in a 2023 census.

- Reuters