India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in New Zealand on Friday, highlighting a recently signed free trade agreement that has triggered political backlash despite government claims it will boost jobs, investment and economic growth.
Trade, tourism and sports are expected to dominate the agenda during Modi’s visit. However, growing anti-migrant sentiment in parts of New Zealand has cast a shadow over the trip to a country that has long prided itself on diversity and tolerance.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has strongly backed the free trade agreement, signed in April with the world’s most populous nation. He has said the deal will spur exports, attract investment and create employment opportunities.
While the agreement is widely expected to secure parliamentary approval, it has drawn criticism from within Luxon’s governing coalition.
Lawmakers from the populist New Zealand First Party have voiced opposition to provisions relating to migration and visa arrangements.
“I don’t care how much criticism we get, I am just never going to agree with a butter chicken tsunami coming to New Zealand,” government minister Shane Jones said during a local radio interview.
Jones’ remarks prompted strong criticism, with an Indian community leader accusing him of “outright racism”.
The controversy deepened after evangelical preacher Brian Tamaki criticised Modi ahead of his arrival, accusing the Indian leader of persecuting Christians in India and urging retaliation against religious communities in New Zealand.
“Let’s purge New Zealand of Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims,” Tamaki said on Instagram.
“While we’re at it, if they’re burning churches down, why don’t we burn mosques and their temples down? Tit for tat,” he added. His comments were condemned by New Zealand’s Race Relations Commissioner as “utterly appalling”.
Concerns over racism have also surfaced elsewhere. Earlier this year, Indigenous Māori activist Che Wilson was accused of insulting an Indian-born New Zealand lawmaker through a cultural haka performance that allegedly included racially charged references.
Massey University anthropologist Sita Venkateswar said Modi’s visit comes at a time when Indian-New Zealanders are increasingly being targeted.
“A ‘butter chicken tsunami’, slurs set to a haka, graffiti on a school wall — South Asians are already the most frequent targets of racially motivated incidents in our data,” she told AFP.
“That is real and it is wrong,” she added.
Modi’s stay in New Zealand will last little more than a day and marks the final leg of his July 6-11 tour, which has also included visits to Indonesia and Australia.
During the visit, he is scheduled to attend an official ceremony at Government House, participate in a business and sports event in Auckland, and become the first Indian prime minister to visit New Zealand in 40 years.
The highlight of the trip is expected to be Modi’s address to up to 10,000 members of the Indian diaspora at a community event at Auckland’s Spark Arena.
Despite criticism from some quarters, Prime Minister Luxon has sought to present a welcoming message, emphasising New Zealand’s ties with its Indian community of around 300,000 people.
“This visit is about celebrating a winning partnership between New Zealand and India — one that delivers for our people and supports greater prosperity and security for both our countries,” Luxon said.