Key Highlights of PM’s Visit to New Zealand

About Key Highlights of PM’s Visit to New Zealand (2026)

• Strategic Partnership: On 11 July 2026, the Prime Ministers of India and New Zealand met in Auckland and announced the India–New Zealand Strategic Partnership.
• Key Outcomes of PM’s Visit to New Zealand:
  • Political and Diplomatic Engagement:
    • High-Level Political Dialogue: India and New Zealand agreed to hold regular meetings between their Prime Ministers, Cabinet Ministers, and Foreign Ministers.
    • Institutional Coordination: Both countries decided to strengthen interactions between ministries and government departments.
      • They also agreed to continue annual senior-level meetings to guide the implementation of the Strategic Partnership and the Roadmap to 2030.
  • Defence and Security Cooperation:
    • Defence Cooperation: Both countries agreed to continue military exercises, unit visits, personnel exchanges, defence staff college exchanges, and high-level defence dialogue.
      • They also agreed to implement the 2025 Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation.
    • Maritime Security: Both sides agreed to implement the Maritime Cooperation Arrangement, Hydrography and Nautical Cartography Arrangement, and Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement.
      • They also agreed to conduct bilateral naval exercises, cooperate under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, and establish an annual Maritime Security Dialogue.
    • Counter-Terrorism and Cyber Security: Both sides agreed to operationalize the Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, continue the Cyber Dialogue, strengthen law enforcement cooperation, and improve infrastructure resilience.
  • Trade and Economic Cooperation:
    • Trade and Market Access: Both countries set a target to double bilateral trade to NZ$7 billion (₹35,000 crore) by 2030.
      • They also agreed to work towards the early implementation of the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement.
    • Trade Facilitation: Both sides agreed to operationalize the 2025 Authorised Economic Operators Mutual Recognition Arrangement under the 2024 Customs Cooperation Arrangement to simplify customs procedures and facilitate trusted trade.
    • Primary Industries: India and New Zealand agreed to implement cooperation in horticulture, forestry, animal husbandry, and dairying through research, technical cooperation, and policy dialogue.
    • Tourism Connectivity: Both countries agreed to promote two-way tourism and encourage direct non-stop flights under the updated Air Services Agreement.
  • People, Culture and Sport:
    • People-to-People Links: Both countries agreed to strengthen diaspora engagement and encourage cooperation between local governments.
    • Sports and Traditional Knowledge: Both sides agreed to continue sports cooperation, implement the Joint Action Plan on Sport, and support expert-level exchanges on traditional medicine.
    • Maritime and Cultural Cooperation: India and New Zealand agreed to strengthen cooperation on seafarer competency recognition, maritime heritage, and cultural exchanges.
  • Education, Research, Science and Technology, and Disaster Management:
    • Education Partnerships: Both countries agreed to implement the 2025 Education Cooperation Arrangement and expand partnerships between educational institutions.
    • Research and Innovation: Both sides agreed to build partnerships in agriculture, climate, digital transformation, research, science, technology, and emerging technologies.
    • Climate and Disaster Management: India and New Zealand agreed to strengthen cooperation through the International Solar Alliance, the Global Biofuels Alliance, and cooperation between their disaster management agencies.
  • Regional and Multilateral Cooperation:
    • Indo-Pacific Cooperation: Both countries agreed to coordinate in ASEAN-led and other regional forums, strengthen cooperation under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, and support peaceful dispute resolution in accordance with international law, particularly UNCLOS.
    • United Nations Cooperation: Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation at the United Nations, support UN reforms including India’s candidature for permanent membership of a reformed Security Council, and exchange support for multilateral candidatures where possible.