Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s speech at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi is probably the most stirring and impactful speech by any New Zealand prime minister in India. Not that there have been too many—this visit came after nine years. The speech centred around the one idea that would make the Indian establishment sit up and take notice—the Indo-Pacific. With successive New Zealand administrations reluctant to use the term until barely a few years ago, a New Zealand prime minister saying it more than a dozen times in a single speech signals a big shift.
Australia aligned itself with the Indo-Pacific idea a decade ago. Luxon’s sincere resolve in working with the concept augurs well for the New Zealand-India relationship going forward. The new ‘FTA’, or whatever it is eventually termed in its final shape and form, must be negotiated pragmatically, without the baggage of the past which has repeatedly ended in frustrating stalemates.
Luxon’s flawless, buoyant speech, his personal sincerity, and genuine appreciation of what the relationship can achieve as well as a genuine admiration for India’s many recent achievements have laid a fantastic foundation for a high-scoring track, to borrow Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal’s metaphor of Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson coming together to build a big innings total. But the relationship should now move beyond the clichés of the past—mangoes and direct flights. The focus must be on the big picture—IT, fintech, AI, space tech, defence cooperation, education, healthcare, and, of course, two-way trade in goods and services that has meandered along for decades. What must also be harnessed is both the creativity and capital of the Indian diaspora in NZ (good on the Prime Minister for including a large contingent of community leaders in his delegation for the first time).
Equally important is working alongside each other and other Pacific partners to realise India’s vision of a prosperous, secure, and free Indo-Pacific. New Zealand can play a pivotal role in this. New Delhi understands this, which is why Luxon’s speech would have been music to its ears. Hopefully, this new direction will find strong footing in all of the New Zealand establishment.
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