The newly established Consulate General Office in Auckland has officially commenced operations, welcoming the public from Thursday, September 5, 2024. Currently functioning from a temporary location at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre, located at 145 New North Road in Eden Terrace, this marks a significant development in serving the growing Indian community in Auckland and the surrounding regions. The office’s opening comes as a relief to many in the community, as it provides easier access to essential consular services, which were previously available only at the High Commission in Wellington.
The Consulate General Office is initially offering document attestation services, a crucial requirement for many Indian nationals living in Auckland. Document attestation, including certifications, is often needed for various legal and administrative purposes such as immigration, property transactions, and educational matters. As part of a phased approach, the office will gradually extend its offerings to include passport services, visa processing, and Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) applications soon. These services will be invaluable for the Kiwi-Indian population in the area, given the increasing number of people.
Operating hours for the office have been set to accommodate the needs of the public. Applications will be accepted between 9:30 AM and 1:00 PM on weekdays, with a separate window from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM for the collection of processed documents. This schedule is designed to ensure the smooth submission and retrieval of paperwork, streamlining the process for all involved. However, like most government offices, the Consulate General will remain closed on weekends and public holidays. This schedule will allow the community to plan their visits accordingly. For inquiries, the public can reach out to Consul Sanjeev Kumar at hoc.auckland@mea.gov.in and Vice Consul Divya at admn.auckland@mea.gov.in for assistance and further clarification on services.
Dr. Madan Mohan Sethi, who has been appointed as the Consul General for the new office in Auckland, is expected to join his team by early November 2024. His arrival will coincide with the establishment of a permanent office venue, which is currently in the process of being finalized. The appointment of Dr. Sethi is a strategic decision by the Indian government, which aims to expand its consular presence in Auckland to match the level of services offered by the Indian High Commission in Wellington. This move reflects the growing importance of Auckland as a hub for the 300k strong Indian diaspora. Given the large size of the community, the office is expected to eventually match the staffing and operational capacity of the High Commission in Wellington to effectively manage the high demand for consular services in the region.

The new Consulate General Office in Auckland also signals the end of operations for the Honorary Consul Office at Onehunga Mall, which had been the primary point of contact for consular services in Auckland. Services at the Honorary Consul Office officially ceased on September 5, 2024. The Honorary Consulate, led by Bhav Dhillon, was established in 2017 and has been instrumental in providing limited consular services to Indian nationals residing in Auckland. Over the past seven years, this office served as a valuable diplomatic channel, ensuring that the community could access basic services without having to travel to Wellington for every need. The decision to open a full-service consulate in Auckland was made by the Indian government on December 27, 2023, as part of a broader initiative to enhance India’s diplomatic footprint in New Zealand. The establishment of the Consulate General Office in Auckland represents a major milestone in India-New Zealand relations. It not only provides the Indian community in Auckland with greater access to consular services but also strengthens the diplomatic ties between the two nations. The increased presence of Indian diplomatic services in Auckland is expected to bring long-term benefits to both nations, fostering closer ties and improving services for the community. –Yugal Parashar