Prime Minister Narendra Modi and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held bilateral talks in Auckland during PM Modi’s historic visit to the country. After the meeting, India and New Zealand agreed on 18 major initiatives covering defence, trade, agriculture, disaster management, tourism, education, culture and maritime security.
The two leaders described India and New Zealand as “natural partners” and agreed to elevate their relationship to a strategic partnership. They also approved a roadmap that will guide bilateral cooperation until 2030.
What are the biggest agreements signed between India and New Zealand?
One of the biggest outcomes of the meeting was stronger defence cooperation. The two countries signed agreements on maritime cooperation, logistics support between their defence forces, hydrography and nautical cartography. They also decided to begin regular maritime security dialogue to strengthen coordination in the Indo-Pacific region.
India and New Zealand also agreed to establish a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism. This will help both countries improve intelligence sharing and strengthen cooperation against terrorism.
In disaster management, India’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) signed an agreement to work together on disaster preparedness, response and recovery.
How will it benefit farmers?
The two countries also expanded cooperation in agriculture and dairy. The agreement focuses on technical collaboration, sharing of best practices and improving food security while supporting farmers.
Trade was another major focus of the talks. India and New Zealand set a target of increasing bilateral trade to Rs 35,000 crore, or 7 billion New Zealand dollars, by 2030. The leaders said the goal is to create new business opportunities, boost exports and generate employment, especially for young people.
The partnership was also expanded in tourism, sports, culture, education and scientific research. Agreements were signed to promote tourism, sports science, cultural exchanges and joint research between universities and research institutions. New Zealand also joined the Global Biofuels Alliance, while both countries agreed to cooperate on Antarctic research and food technology.
First published on: Jul 11, 2026 10:48 AM IST
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About the Author
Shivam Verma
Shivam Verma is a Chief-Sub-Editor at News24. A postgraduate diploma holder in Integrated Journalism from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, Shivam focuses on international affairs, diplomacy, defence, and politics. Beyond the newsroom, he is passionate about football, both playing and watching, and enjoys travelling to explore new places and cuisines.
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