Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
2025 will be remembered as a year when New Zealand-India relations took off.
The highlight of the year for the Kiwi-Indian community was Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's much-awaited India trip in March.
Both countries restarting free trade negotiations - which gained momentum as the year went on - was the icing on the cake.
India and New Zealand have a chequered history of hot-cold relations on trade, but this time it feels different, with reported agreements on agriculture, defence, education and tourism.
The only awkward moment during Luxon's trip came when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleged "anti-India activities by some illegal elements" in New Zealand, a reference to a Sikh activist group banned in India.
Earlier in the year, heavily redacted documents released under the Official Information Act had revealed Luxon received a briefing on the Khalistan "referendum" that took place in Auckland in November 2024, indicating the seriousness New Zealand attaches to the issue considering Indian sensitivities.
Free trade negotiations continued throughout the year, with Indian minister of commerce and industry Piyush Goyal undertaking his first official visit to New Zealand in November.
The year ended on a significant note when on 22 December Prime Minister Luxon announced the conclusion of free trade negotaitions with India, which has significant wins for several sectors but limited gains for dairy.
Importantly National's coalition partner New Zealand First is withholding supoort to the deal, meaning the government will need o
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