Published July 10, 2026last updated July 10, 2026
What is New Zealand talking about amid Modi’s visit?
Here is a breakdown of the conversations that surround Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s New Zealand trip:
Migration
As Modi touches down in Auckland, his visit has put the focus on an anti-migrant tenor in New Zealand which has come on the heels of the free trade between the two countries.
New Zealand’s parliament is widely expected to give its approval to the pact signed in April.
But some lawmakers including those in the right-wing populist New Zealand First (NZF) party — Prime Christopher Luxon’s coalition partner — have criticized the areas of the deal covering migration and visas.
“I don’t care how much criticism we get, I am just never going to agree with a butter chicken tsunami coming to New Zealand,” Shane Jones, government minister and deputy leader of the NZF, said in an April interview with local Reality Check Radio in controversial remarks.
Indian community groups in New Zealand slammed Jones’ statement as racist.
Speaking to Indian news agency ANI on Thursday on the safety of the Indian diaspora, New Zealand Member of Parliament Parmjeet Parmar — who is India-born — said “any kind of racism or any kind of intimidation has no place here in New Zealand.”
Calling the trade pact with India “historic,” she also highlighted opposition to a previous free trade deal between New Zealand and China.
“Yes, there will be some people who will be against it, but this is nothing new. In our previous free trade agreements, like when we had our free trade agreement with China, there were some people against that too,” she told ANI.
Religion
Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki has alleged a persecution of Christians in India under Modi, going on to suggest that New Zealanders should respond in a “tit-for-tat.”
“Let’s purge New Zealand of Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims,” Tamaki said in a video posted on social media.
‘Khalistan’ issue
Another issue being discussed as Modi arrives in New Zealand, is the “Khalistan” separatist movement which demands to create a homeland for Sikhs.
There are concerns in New Delhi about the presence of the movement’s supporters amidst the Indian diaspora in New Zealand.
A controversial, non-binding “referendum” was held in Auckland in 2024 by a Sikh Separatist group advocating for the creation of the Sikh homeland.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Luxon told The Indian Express that his government fully acknowledges that the Khalistan issue has “caused a huge loss of life and pain and suffering to people across India” and that New Zealand fully respects “India’s sovereign and territorial rights.”
“And yes, we’re a liberal democracy. But we have what we call rights and responsibilities, and so yes, you have the right to freedom of expression and freedom of speech, but accompanying that is a responsibility not to incite violence, intimidate others, denigrate others,” Luxon said in the interview.
How local media is covering India-New Zealand talks?
Public broadcaster Radio New Zealand published a profile of Modi under the headline ‘Who is Narendra Modi and why is he visiting New Zealand?’ as he becomes the first Indian prime minister to officially visit the country in 40 years.
“While he (Modi) has been credited for India’s rise on the global scene and economic prosperity, there have also been concerns about his actions on human rights, press freedom and crony capitalism, notably the impacts on the Muslim, Christian and Sikh populations in India,” RNZ said in its explainer.
