Luxon confirms Indian PM's visit amid free trade deal debate

Author: Adam Pearse,
Publish Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2026, 1:44pm

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and India PM Narendra Modi wave at media ahead of their bilateral meeting last year. Photo / Interest.co.nz

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make his first official visit to New Zealand, confirming widespread speculation about an impending visit.

It comes amid Government infighting over the free trade deal with India, which has included Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters alleging National ministers are “covertly” tightening immigration settings for Indians.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon confirmed that Modi would arrive in Auckland on Friday next week and depart the next day.

Luxon heralded Modi’s visit as “historic”, noting it was the first time in 40 years an Indian PM had come to New Zealand.

The Prime Minister also pointed to the free trade deal, which he had promised to achieve within his first term – a commitment that had been doubted by many commentators.

“We are taking the two countries’ relationship to the next level with our New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement, signed in April, which will deliver more jobs, higher exports and stronger economic growth for New Zealand.”

Luxon said he expected to discuss with Modi several topics including “trade and investment, maritime security, education, technology, tourism, sport, and global issues”.

“We will also be celebrating the people-to-people connections between our two countries, with Kiwi-Indians comprising around 6% of New Zealand’s population and making a significant contribution to our country.”

It had been speculated for months, particularly within New Zealand’s Indian communities, that Modi would visit. Luxon had refused to confirm or deny a visit until today.

Debate over the free trade agreement will be a feature of the visit. The Government introduced legislation needed to implement the deal in the House this week.

Peters, also the New Zealand First leader, had long railed against the deal, initially concerned about the extent to which it allowed Indian migrants to bring their families into the country.

He has since claimed National ministers had pivoted to tighten immigration settings without telling India.

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford has claimed no final decisions had been made and maintained she didn’t know what Peters was referring to.

Adam Pearse is the deputy political editor and part of the NZ Herald’s press gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.