Luxon's India visit and trade talks

The story so far

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon travelled to India in mid-March 2025 with a large business delegation, seeking to strengthen trade and security ties and secure a free-trade deal.^{10, 14, 15 Mar 2025} The visit saw the formal start of negotiations for a Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, following a decade in which earlier efforts had stalled.^{17 Mar 2025} Luxon met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, where they pledged closer military and economic cooperation and signed agreements covering education, forestry and horticulture.^{17 Mar 2025} Modi alleged that illegal elements in New Zealand were engaging in anti-India activities, and Luxon also said the time was right to revisit direct flights between the two countries.^{17, 18 Mar 2025} Labour leader Chris Hipkins accused Luxon of undermining New Zealand's nuclear-free policy by apparently endorsing India's bid to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group.^{19 Mar 2025}

Latest

Air New Zealand is investigating direct flights to India by approximately 2028, while visa issues remain a challenge for travellers.^{20 Mar 2025}

Key moments

1. 17 Mar 2025Formal free-trade negotiations with India launched, ending a decade of stalled efforts.
2. 17 Mar 2025Luxon and Modi pledge closer military and economic ties; several agreements signed.
3. 17 Mar 2025Modi alleges illegal elements in New Zealand engage in anti-India activities.
4. 19 Mar 2025Luxon downplays talk of a 60-day timeline for a deal, despite a 2026 commitment.
5. 19 Mar 2025Hipkins accuses Luxon of compromising nuclear-free policy over Nuclear Suppliers Group bid.
6. 20 Mar 2025Air New Zealand investigates direct India flights by around 2028; visa issues remain.
7. 24 Mar 2025Peters rejects relaxing immigration settings as part of India trade talks.

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.