Sharing details of the event on social media platform X, Prime Minister Modi said that sports have long served as a strong bridge between India and New Zealand. He noted that the two countries are celebrating 100 years of sporting ties this year and described the Auckland showcase as an opportunity to witness cutting-edge innovations shaping the future of sports.

According to the Prime Minister, the exhibition featured modern technologies and creative solutions that are transforming athletic performance, training and fan engagement. He said such innovations not only advance sports but also strengthen people-to-people connections between the two nations.

During the visit, Modi and Luxon interacted with several distinguished New Zealand athletes and stakeholders associated with high-performance sports programmes. Discussions focused on strengthening sporting collaboration and exploring new opportunities beyond traditional areas of engagement.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the two leaders acknowledged a century of sports cooperation between India and New Zealand and emphasised the importance of expanding partnerships into new disciplines. Prime Minister Modi highlighted the recently concluded Sports Joint Action Plan, describing it as a significant step towards broadening cooperation beyond cricket.

The ministry stated that the initiative aligns with the shared objective of enhancing sports exchanges and institutional collaboration at a time when India is preparing to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Officials believe greater cooperation in sports science, athlete development and training can create long-term benefits for both countries.

A special gala lunch hosted by Prime Minister Luxon under the theme “India-New Zealand: A Winning Partnership” brought together leading personalities from politics, business, industry, education, technology, sports and the arts. The event served as a platform to celebrate the growing strategic relationship between the two nations.

Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Modi spoke about the complementary strengths of India and New Zealand and the strong people-to-people ties that have developed over decades. He welcomed the elevation of bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership and expressed confidence that the move would deepen cooperation across multiple sectors.

The Prime Minister also referred to the recently concluded India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA), stating that it would create fresh opportunities for businesses, farmers and young people in both countries. He said the agreement is expected to support the shared goal of doubling bilateral trade by 2030.

In his remarks, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon highlighted the enduring relationship between the two countries and reiterated New Zealand’s commitment to expanding cooperation in trade, innovation, education and sports. He said both nations share a vision of strengthening economic growth and delivering greater prosperity for their people.

The Auckland events underscored the growing momentum in India-New Zealand relations, with sports emerging as an important pillar alongside trade, education and strategic cooperation.