New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is on a five-day India trip, enthusiastically interacting with children, playing ‘gully cricket,’ and seeing major sights. Luxon, joined by retired New Zealand cricketer Ross Taylor and former Indian cricketer Kapil Dev, is emphasizing deepening India-New Zealand ties and reigniting trade talks.
Playing Cricket in Delhi
Christopher Luxon posted photos of himself and Ross Taylor playing ‘gully cricket’ with kids in New Delhi. His involvement in the casual street cricket version was a testament to his interest in Indian culture and the common sporting interest between the two countries.
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During his tour, Luxon visited the India Gate and posted a photograph from the location on the social media site X. He also called on the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in Delhi, recognizing the contribution of the Hindu community in New Zealand. “The Hindu community in New Zealand has made a huge contribution to our nation. Today in Delhi, I paid respects at a site important to many Kiwi-Hindus – the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple,” he tweeted on X.
Keynote Address at Raisina Dialogue 2025
As the chief guest for the 10th Raisina Dialogue 2025, Christopher Luxon gave the keynote address, emphasizing the strong bonds of connection between India and New Zealand. “It is over 200 years since Indians and New Zealanders started living alongside each other. Just as they were 200 years ago, ‘Kiwi-Indians’ today are completely part of our multicultural society,” he said. He also reiterated that people of Indian origin constitute 11% of Auckland’s population, which indicates their large number and contribution.
India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement on the Horizon
During his visit, Christopher Luxon was positive about concluding a free trade agreement (FTA) with India within 60 days. The planned agreement seeks to increase bilateral trade tenfold over the next decade. India and New Zealand first initiated talks on the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) in 2010. But talks failed in 2015 after nine rounds of negotiations.
On March 16, after almost a decade, both countries decided to resume talks to deepen economic engagement. However, according to the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), India’s proposed FTA with New Zealand would come as no significant advantage to the domestic industry given that some of the Indian exports are already imported duty-free to New Zealand.
New Zealand has a minimum average import tariff of 2.3%, while India has 17.8%, which can lead to trade imbalances. The two-way trade between New Zealand and India stood at $873.4 million during 2023-24, while that of 2022-23 was $1.02 billion.
Strengthening Bilateral Relations
Luxon’s trip also indicates the eagerness of New Zealand to enhance relations with India. His role in cultural events, as well as efforts to reinstate trade agreements, represents a strategic effort towards closer cooperation. As both countries are eager to boost trade and people-to-people engagement, the coming months can be instrumental in determining future economic partnerships.
