As we all know, the Consulate General of India office in Auckland started working from a temporary room in Mahatma Gandhi Centre, Mt Eden Road from first week of September 2024. A full-fledged office will soon start working from a prime location in the CBD area of the city. The opening of the consulate is the commitment of Indian Government to connect to its diaspora and render efficient services to the needs of the diaspora. The Indian Consulate at Auckland has the jurisdiction over Auckland, North Land and Waikato Region where a large Indian diaspora estimated to be about 2,00,000 stays and works.
Both India and New Zealand enjoy close and cordial ties. Both countries are members of Commonwealth, and both have shared aspirations of economic development through democratic governance systems. Tourism, sporting links particularly cricket have played a significant role in fostering goodwill between both the countries.
People to people contact through migration from mainland India started in 1860s. New Zealand is home to about 3,00,000 persons of Indian origin and NRIs. More than 8000 students pursue higher education in New Zealand in different disciplines.
Diplomatic relationship started in 1950 with establishment of a Trade Commission. It was upgraded to a High Commission in 1952.High level visits have continued from both sides, the recent being the visit of Hon’ble President of India to NZ in August 24.NZ identified India as a priority country in its “Opening Doors to India “policy notified in 2011, later reiterated in 2015. NZ released a strategy paper “India- NZ 2025- Investing in Relationship” on the eve of visit of Dy PM/ Foreign Minister of NZ to India in March 2024.
Both countries support exchange of parliamentary delegations the last being from NZ in November 2019.In the last three years, official delegations from States of Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Assam, Manipur and Sikkim visited NZ to explore cooperation in agriculture, plantation of kiwi fruits etc.
India and NZ have multiple institutional dialogue mechanisms like Joint Trade Committee (JTC), Foreign Ministry Consultations (FMC), Cyber Dialogues, Economic Dialogue and Track -II Dialogue. Both sides have cooperation in defence, agriculture, dairy, science & technology, education etc.
On trade front, both countries had a total trade of 1.75 billion USD in 2023-24, export from NZ being USD 0.84 billion and from India being USD 0.91 billion (both products & service). As of 10th February 2025, bilateral trade has touched the figure of USD 873 million. There is huge potential to increase the trade between both the countries. On investment front, Indian IT companies like HCL, TCS, Tech Mahindra and Infosys have office in NZ apart from others like Dr Reddy, Royal Enfield, Mahindra Motor. Important NZ companies like Gallagher group, Sealegs, Hamilton Jet, Glidepath, Quality NZ and others have invested in India.
The Indian Consulate in coming days plans to host multiple business and investment meetings, tourism promotion events, partnership events in higher education & RD between universities and institutions of both sides and publicity on India and its achievements in different fields to create awareness among Kiwi friends.
The Consulate will also use every festival occasion like Diwali, Holi to strengthen the bond between people of Indian origin with locals. The Indian Consulate commits to render services to all with sincerity and speed. -by Dr Madan Mohan Sethi, Consul General of India in Auckland
