Auckland's Sky Tower lights up in India's tricolour as PM Modi begins historic New Zealand visit

New Zealand's iconic Sky Tower was illuminated in the colours of the Indian national flag as Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Auckland on Friday for a historic visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in four decades.

The special gesture was highlighted by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, who shared visuals of the landmark lit up in saffron, white and green.

"A special welcome in Auckland! The iconic Sky Tower was illuminated to mark the visit of PM @narendramodi to New Zealand, symbolising the friendship between our two countries," Jaiswal wrote on X.

Shortly after landing in Auckland, PM Modi described the trip as "historic" and thanked New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon for personally welcoming him at the airport.

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"Reached Auckland a short while ago. Thankful to Prime Minister Luxon for the welcome at the airport. This visit is historic, being the first Prime Ministerial visit to New Zealand in four decades," PM Modi posted on X.

The Prime Minister said he was looking forward to discussions aimed at strengthening ties between the two countries.

"Look forward to holding talks with Prime Minister Luxon and discussing the complete range of the India-NZ friendship. I will also be addressing a community programme tomorrow in Auckland," he added.

Later, PM Modi attended a cultural performance by the Naad Vocal Ensemble and praised the group's presentation as a reflection of the strong bonds between India and New Zealand.

"Delighted to witness the wonderful performance by the Naad Vocal Ensemble. Music has a unique ability to bring people together and today’s performance beautifully reflected the warmth and depth of India-New Zealand friendship," PM Modi wrote on X.

According to the MEA, PM Modi will hold bilateral talks with Luxon in Auckland and review the entire spectrum of India-New Zealand relations, which have witnessed significant progress over the past two years, particularly in trade, commerce and defence cooperation.

During the visit, PM Modi is also scheduled to interact with leading business and sports personalities and address a large gathering of the Indian diaspora, highlighting the strong people-to-people ties between the two nations.

The visit comes months after India and New Zealand signed a Free Trade Agreement in April this year, a move expected to boost trade and economic cooperation. PM Modi and Luxon had earlier held bilateral talks in New Delhi on March 17, 2025, during the New Zealand Prime Minister's official visit to India.

Officials expect PM Modi's visit to provide fresh momentum to bilateral trade, investment and strategic cooperation.

Before arriving in New Zealand, PM Modi concluded a visit to Australia, where he participated in the third Australia-India Annual Leaders' Summit with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Held in Melbourne, the summit marked a major milestone in the two countries' six-year Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and resulted in a series of agreements focused on strengthening Indo-Pacific security, securing critical mineral supply chains and accelerating clean energy cooperation.

With inputs from agencies