India-New Zealand Strategic Partnership and Bilateral Agreements
India and New Zealand have elevated their relationship to a Strategic Partnership with the adoption of a Roadmap to 2030, which provides a structured framework for implementation across relevant ministries and stakeholders for the next four years. The partnership strengthens cooperation across multiple domains including trade, defence, maritime security, tourism, culture, sports, agri-tech, people-to-people ties, as well as coordination on Indo-Pacific priorities and multilateral issues.
Trade and Economic Cooperation
A significant economic target has been set to double bilateral trade to NZ$7 billion (equivalent to ₹35,000 crore) by 2030. This goal aims to boost economic ties and expand market access within the context of the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries.
Defence and Maritime Security Agreements
Several defence-related agreements were signed, including a Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Cooperation between the Ministry of Defence of India and the New Zealand Defence Force, establishing a framework for enhanced maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific through dialogue, coordination, information exchange, and joint activities. An Implementation Arrangement concerning cooperation in hydrography and nautical cartography strengthens hydrographic cooperation through joint production of navigational charts, data sharing, training, and capacity building. Additionally, an Arrangement concerning mutual logistics support between the Indian Navy and the New Zealand Defence Force facilitates reciprocal logistics support during approved activities and operations. The two countries have also agreed to establish a Maritime Security Dialogue to strengthen cooperation, coordination and information exchange.
Sectoral Cooperation Agreements
Multiple sector-specific memoranda were signed covering diverse areas: A Memorandum of Cooperation between National Disaster Management Authority of India and New Zealand's National Emergency Management Agency promotes collaboration in disaster risk management with emphasis on earthquake resilience, tsunami preparedness, and coastal hazard mitigation. A Memorandum of Cooperation in animal husbandry and dairying between India's Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and New Zealand's Ministry of Primary Industries creates a framework for technical collaboration and knowledge exchange. A Memorandum of Arrangement in tourism between the Ministries of Tourism of both countries aims to strengthen economic ties and increase tourist flow. An India-New Zealand Joint Action Plan on Sport provides framework for collaboration in high-performance sport, sports science, and athlete development.
Specific Initiatives and Announcements
New Zealand has nominated Maritime Security as a priority pillar under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), specifically joining the maritime security pillar to undertake cooperation activities focused on combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing. New Zealand's joining of the Global Biofuels Alliance strengthens international cooperation to accelerate development and adoption of sustainable biofuels for cleaner energy transition. Under the Agricultural Productivity Partnership, a Kiwifruit Action Plan is being launched along with the establishment of two Centres of Excellence for Kiwifruit in Nagaland and Uttarakhand, supported by collaboration in education, skills development, and agricultural innovation.
Research and Educational Collaboration
Two academic memoranda were established: an MoU between the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa and University of Canterbury, NZ for collaboration in Antarctic research promoting joint research and academic exchange, and an MoU between National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli (NIFTEM-K) and Massey University, New Zealand for cooperation in research, academic exchange, and student mobility.
Cultural and Heritage Cooperation
Additional agreements include an Arrangement on Cultural Cooperation between Ministries of Culture of both countries to promote exchanges in arts, heritage, and cultural initiatives, and a Memorandum of Arrangement for development of National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC), Lothal at Gujarat between NMHC and New Zealand Maritime Museum providing framework for cooperation through collaborative projects.