President Murmu’s New Zealand Visit: Diplomatic Engagements And Warm Maori Welcome Highlight Eight-Year Presidential Return

President Droupadi Murmu arrived in New Zealand on Wednesday, marking the second stop on her three-nation tour. During this visit, she will meet Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, and other senior ministers as India aims to strengthen its bilateral relations. Upon her arrival, Murmu received a warm welcome from Todd McClay, Minister of Agriculture, Trade, Forestry, Hunting and Fishing, and Associate Foreign Affairs, as reported by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a post on X.

“A warm welcome to the Hon’ble @rashtrapatibhvn Smt. Droupadi Murmu as she arrived in New Zealand today. Warmly received by Minister @toddmcclaymp and HC Neeta Bhushan at Auckland,” it said.

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MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal tweets, “President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Wellington on a State Visit to New Zealand. Substantive talks with New Zealand leadership to give a fillip to India-New Zealand partnership lie ahead.”

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal tweets, “President Droupadi Murmu warmly received by Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro of New Zealand at the Government House in Wellington. President was welcomed with a traditional Maori “Pōwhiri” ceremony. She was also accorded Royal Guard of Honour.”

A Visit after Eight Years

This marks the first presidential visit to New Zealand in eight years. In addition to her meetings with Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro, President Murmu will also engage with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters.

President Murmu will attend a community reception in Auckland, where she will meet with members of the Indian diaspora and Friends of India. The Indian community in New Zealand, which numbers around 300,000 out of a total population of 5 million, is well-integrated and serves as a vital link between the two countries.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), New Zealand has prioritized its relationship with India, recognizing it as a key partner in areas such as defense, security, trade, and investment. This visit is therefore expected to be highly significant in strengthening bilateral ties.

“Education plays a big part in our bilateral relations. We are the country with the second largest number of students in New Zealand, about 8,000 Indian students study there, and Rashtrapati ji will therefore be addressing an International Education Conference in Wellington, where India is the Guest of Honor. This underscores the significance of the educational relationship where New Zealand is looking to work with India and collaborate with our education system and our educational institutions apart from the students that we send there,” it said.

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