India and New Zealand Improve Ties with Jaishankar Visit

In early October, India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar visited New Zealand, where he met with his counterpart Nanaia Mahuta as well as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. In fact, New Zealand formulated a new forward-looking strategy document, “India-New Zealand 2025: Investing in the Relationship,” during then-New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ visit to India in February 2020. In fact, Jaishankar stated that the India-New Zealand relationship “is due for an update, is due for a refresh,” adding that “there are so many challenges, so many possibilities which are important for countries like India and New Zealand to think openly with an engaging approach to help ourselves and help the world.” Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta also expressed similar sentiments, stating that the “reopening of borders has provided a timely opportunity to re-engage with India.” While inaugurating a new Indian Chancery in Wellington, Jaishankar said that he raised with the New Zealand foreign minister some of the difficulties faced by Indian students in New Zealand following the pandemic. India’s relationship with New Zealand and Australia is particularly important in the context of the Pacific Island region, which is becoming another center of geopolitics given the growing Chinese footprint in the islands.