This February, Indian High Commissioner Nita Bhushan had the honor of meeting New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Wellington. Shortly thereafter, the Prime Minister immersed himself in the vibrant festivities of Holi in Auckland, setting the stage for a series of momentous engagements to follow.

In March, PM Luxon embarked on a historic visit to India, marking the first official trip by a New Zealand Prime Minister to the country in nine years. The last such visit was undertaken by former PM John Key. Accompanying Luxon was a distinguished delegation comprising community and business luminaries—the largest entourage ever to accompany a New Zealand Prime Minister on an international mission. Among the prominent members of this esteemed group were former Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand, former National Party MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, business stalwart Rajna Patel, Sudima Hotels CEO Sudesh Jhunjhunwala, India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC) chair Bharat Chawla, Waitakere Indian Association president Sunil Kaushal, and Wellington Indian Association president Manisha Morar.

During his visit, Mr. Luxon served as the chief guest at the prestigious Raisina Dialogue, India’s premier conference on geopolitics and geo-economics, held in New Delhi. In his discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, both nations reaffirmed their steadfast commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, expanding trade avenues, deepening defense cooperation, and upholding peace in the Indo-Pacific region. Standing in solidarity against terrorism, the two leaders also pledged to enhance the people-to-people connections that form the bedrock of their relationship.

Highlighting the invaluable contributions of the Indian diaspora to New Zealand’s economic and cultural fabric, PM Luxon underscored the significance of the delegation that accompanied him—an assembly of influential figures from business, law, education, media, and sports. “The depth and importance of these ties are reflected in the delegation of proud Kiwi-Indians who have joined me on this mission,” he remarked. Acknowledging the shared sporting passion that unites both nations, he drew attention to the presence of celebrated New Zealand cricketers Ross Taylor and Ajaz Patel, who were also part of his delegation.

In a moment of levity, Mr. Luxon playfully referenced the recent Champions Trophy cricket final between India and New Zealand, humorously noting that he and PM Modi had mutually decided to steer clear of discussing the match’s outcome to avoid a “major diplomatic incident.”

Further solidifying diplomatic engagement, Mr. Luxon announced a significant expansion of New Zealand’s diplomatic presence in India—an increase of over 60 percent—a resounding testament to the growing partnership between the two nations. “This underscores our commitment to the relationship and our ambition to see it flourish even further,” he stated with conviction.

The Prime Minister also took a moment to express his deep admiration for the Indian community in New Zealand, acknowledging their role in shaping the nation’s progress. Sharing his sentiments on social media, he posted on X: “The Indian community is the third-largest ethnic group in New Zealand. India is our largest source of skilled migrants and our second-largest source of international students.” In a heartfelt tribute, he further noted, “Indian-Kiwis make a massive contribution to New Zealand, and I’m proud of what this community does for our country.”

In this issue, we delve into a multitude of compelling narratives on the Indian diaspora, diplomacy, and business. We invite you to embark on this insightful journey and hope you find it an enriching read.

Sayantan Chakravarty
sayantanc@gmail.com