Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited leading New Zealand universities to establish campuses in India as both nations seek to expand cooperation in education, culture, trade and innovation under their Roadmap to 2030.
Addressing the Indian community in Auckland during his historic visit to New Zealand, Prime Minister Modi said New Zealand’s universities could play an important role in India’s growing higher education ecosystem.
“New Zealand has been an important destination for Indian students. We invite New Zealand universities to open campuses in India.”
The announcement came alongside the signing of a Cultural Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aimed at strengthening collaboration in arts, heritage, creative industries and cultural exchanges.
The two countries also agreed to expand cooperation in healthcare, including traditional systems of medicine.
Education has emerged as a key focus area in the evolving India–New Zealand relationship, with both nations looking to increase people-to-people links and create new opportunities for students, researchers and institutions.
The invitation forms part of the broader Roadmap to 2030 adopted during PM Modi’s two-day visit, which aims to deepen cooperation across multiple sectors including trade, defence, maritime security, technology and education.
PM Modi and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, with the visit marking the first by an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand in four decades.
The two nations signed agreements on defence cooperation and committed to greater collaboration on maritime security.
PM Modi said India and New Zealand had elevated their relationship to a Strategic Partnership and expressed confidence in expanding economic ties.
“This has been a great year for the India-New Zealand partnership. Earlier this year, our nations concluded a Free Trade Agreement in record time and now, we have elevated our ties to a Strategic Partnership. Next up, we wish to double bilateral trade by 2030.”
Thousands of members of New Zealand’s Indian community gathered at Auckland’s Spark Arena for the “Kia Ora Modi” community event, celebrating the Prime Minister’s visit as a milestone moment for the diaspora.
Many attendees described the visit as a recognition of the contribution of Indian New Zealanders and the deepening relationship between the two countries.
Auckland Indian Association president Shanti Patel said the visit carried significance beyond politics.
“We’ve been anticipating a visit for 40 years. It recognises migration, identity and gives us a sense of ourselves.”
The event brought together community members, business leaders and sporting icons as India and New Zealand marked 100 years of sporting connections.
Former New Zealand cricketer Ross Taylor highlighted India’s passion for cricket, while sporting champions including Dame Lisa Carrington and Dame Valerie Adams joined celebrations showcasing the sporting links between the two nations.
PM Modi said the Indian community in New Zealand remained a “strong pillar” of friendship between the two countries.
“The Indian community in New Zealand is one of the strongest pillars of our friendship. Addressing them in Auckland was a memorable experience.”
The New Zealand visit was the final stop of PM Modi’s wider Asia-Pacific tour, which also included engagements in Australia and Indonesia, focusing on strengthening India’s partnerships across the Indo-Pacific region.
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