Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing thousands of Indian-origin residents at Auckland's Spark Arena on Saturday, struck an emotional chord by promising that the next visit by an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand would not take another four decades. He held up a woollen muffler gifted to him during a visit to New Zealand nearly 25 years ago, saying he had preserved it as a symbol of the community's affection.
Emotional Connection with the Diaspora
“I have kept this muffler safely, just as I have kept your love safely in my heart,” Modi told the audience, which erupted into chants of “Modi, Modi” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”. Opening his address with “Namaste” and “Kia Ora”, he thanked the community for its warm welcome and said he had brought the good wishes of 1.4 billion Indians. “Your body may be here, but your heart remains connected with India,” he added.
High-Profile Attendance and Bilateral Ties
The event was attended by New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, political leaders, and more than 10,000 members of the Indian community. Modi described the India-New Zealand relationship as founded on trust, democratic values, and mutual respect, with the diaspora serving as a vital bridge between the two nations. He praised Indian-origin New Zealanders for their achievements across business, public service, and sport, citing Air New Zealand chief executive Nikhil Ravishankar, former Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand, and cricketers Rachin Ravindra and Ish Sodhi as examples of the community's contribution.
Cultural Parallels and Sikh Heritage
Modi joked that the Indian connection could also be seen on New Zealand's map, referring to places and roads carrying names such as Bombay Hills, Khandallah, Kolkata Street, and Amritsar Street. Drawing parallels between Maori and Indian traditions, he said values such as manaakitanga, whanau, and kaitiakitanga closely reflected Indian beliefs centred on hospitality, family, and environmental stewardship. He paid tribute to the sacrifices of the Sahibzadas and referred to his government's efforts to bring sacred saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib from Afghanistan to India. He also spoke about the observance of Veer Bal Diwas, efforts to improve access to Hemkunt Sahib, and initiatives to preserve important Sikh religious artefacts, including the historic Jore Sahib at Takht Sri Patna Sahib.
