Kiwis Turn to India

New Zealanders are increasingly recognizing the importance of India to their country's future, according to the latest research. Data from the Asia New Zealand Foundation’s 2026 Perceptions of Asia survey reveals that 61 percent of Kiwis now view India as important to New Zealand's future—a notable rise from 59 percent in the previous report—with 27 percent identifying the nation as "very important." Respondents highlighted India's massive population, growing bilateral trade, immigration links, free trade agreements, and expanding commercial opportunities as the driving factors behind its strategic value.

Public sentiment regarding friendship remains consistently positive, with 54 percent of New Zealanders viewing India as a friend, including 8 percent who categorize it as a close friend. While 9 percent of respondents consider India a threat, only 2 percent view it as a major threat. Trust levels also saw movement, as high trust in India to act responsibly on the global stage climbed to 23 percent, compared to 46 percent who remain neutral and 26 percent expressing low or very low trust. Despite these growing ties, South Asia remains the least familiar sub-region to Kiwis, with just 29 percent reporting at least a "fair amount" of knowledge about it.

This recognition of India's importance is actively mirrored in personal travel and cultural engagement. Supplementary data from Stats NZ shows New Zealanders completed 114,884 return trips to India in the year ending January 2026—an 11 percent increase over the previous year—solidifying India as New Zealand's second most visited Asian destination after China. Additionally, Indian media continues to find an audience locally, with 18 percent of New Zealanders who consume Asian entertainment choosing content produced in India, placing it fourth behind Japan, South Korea, and China. (Credit- Asia New Zealand Foundation)