Modi: India, New Zealand Futures Are Intertwined

Strategic Partnership Elevated With 2030 Roadmap

PM Modi highlighted the evolving partnership between the two countries from space exploration to rugby. The visit by the Indian PM to New Zealand is for the first time in 40 years after both countries upgraded their relations to a Strategic Partnership and signed an enhanced Roadmap to 2030 to boost cooperation in defence, trade, security, technology and regional matters.

The upgrading of New Zealand's relations with India places the island country on an expanding list of nations that have signed formal Strategic Partnerships with New Delhi and are key components of the latter's Indo-Pacific strategy.

Modi Celebrates Century Of Hockey Relations

Commemorating 100 years of sports ties between India and New Zealand, the PM remembered the visit of the Indian hockey team to the country 100 years ago, and Major Dhyan Chand's contributions. 

"This year marks the completion of 100 years of sporting relations between India and New Zealand. A hundred years ago, our hockey team came to New Zealand to play, and Major Dhyan Chand's magnificent performance during that tour was the talk of the town. His hockey skills won the hearts of the people of New Zealand as well. This is the era of collaboration. New Zealand and India can achieve great things through collaboration in sports as well," he said.

MEA Explains Modi's Public Outreach Style

In response to a question from a Kiwi journalist about why PM Modi does not hold press conferences even during the interaction with the Indian diplomats, a senior official from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) defended Modi’s communication style.

MEA official Rudrendra Tandon described Modi as a leader who communicates directly with the voters rather than going through any middlemen. 

“Prime Minister Modi is a quintessential Indian politician. By and large, Indian politicians favor direct contact with their electorate. They want direct contact. They don't like being spoken down to. They don't like being spoken to through intermediaries,” he said.

“And Modi has perfected the art of direct contact with his electorate. And he seems to be doing a rather good job of it since, you know, he's been elected. He's in his third term. He's one of the longest serving prime ministers in our country,” he added.