PM Modi hails diaspora role in Auckland address, says next visit won’t take 40 years

Prime Minister Narendra Modi struck an emotional chord with thousands of Indian-origin residents gathered at Auckland’s Spark Arena on Saturday, promising that the next visit by an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand would not take another four decades.

Holding up a woollen muffler gifted to him by a member of the Indian community during a visit to New Zealand nearly 25 years ago, Modi said he had preserved it as a symbol of the affection he had received.

“I have kept this muffler safely, just as I have kept your love safely in my heart,” he told the audience, which repeatedly broke into chants of “Modi, Modi” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”.

Opening his address with “Namaste” and “Kia Ora”, Modi thanked the community for its warm welcome and said he had brought with him the good wishes of 1.4 billion Indians. “Your body may be here, but your heart remains connected with India,” he said.

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 one 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. He 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 Ma-ori and Indian traditions, he said values such as manaakitanga, wha-nau and kaitiakitanga closely reflected Indian beliefs centred on hospitality, family and environmental stewardship.

He paid tribute to the sacrifices of the Sahibzadas. He 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.