NZ PM Christopher Luxon: India Ties Key To Defending A 'Rules-Based' World Order
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting New Zealand on July 10 and 11, the first such visit by an Indian PM in about four decades. Ahead of this trip, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon spoke to The Indian Express about why he believes this moment matters for both countries.
Luxon described the world as being at a turning point. For decades after World War II, global affairs were largely guided by shared rules and multilateral institutions where countries, regardless of size, were expected to follow the same norms. Luxon argued this system is now giving way to a more power-driven, multipolar world, citing examples like the United States focusing inward, China seeking greater influence in the Indo-Pacific, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
For a small trading nation like New Zealand, Luxon said, the old rules-based order was hugely beneficial because it meant powerful countries could not simply bully smaller ones. He believes this system needs to be defended and renewed, and that India is a natural partner in that effort.
Interestingly, Luxon also agreed with a long-standing Indian argument: that the post-war global system was built without proper representation for countries of the Global South, including India and Brazil. He said this system needs reform so these nations have a genuine voice.
On bilateral ties, Luxon noted that India and New Zealand have been friends for over a century but are geographically far apart and have not built a particularly deep relationship. He said conversations with Modi convinced him both countries share similar values and should now build a broader partnership covering economic, defence, security, and people-to-people ties.
Luxon also addressed immigration, an issue where many Western countries are seeing rising anti-immigrant sentiment. He argued that New Zealand sees this trend as an opportunity, since skilled Indians who may once have chosen the United States could now consider New Zealand instead, given its English-speaking environment, strong universities, and stable economy.
Explaining why New Zealand hasn't faced the same backlash against immigration seen elsewhere, Luxon pointed to strict legal immigration processes and a system that ties immigration numbers to actual skill shortages and available infrastructure like housing, schools, and hospitals.
Luxon has led New Zealand since 2023, previously visited India in 2024, and had worked there decades earlier in the private sector, giving him a personal familiarity with the country ahead of Modi's landmark visit.
Why it matters
This interview matters because it signals New Zealand actively courting India as a strategic partner at a moment when established global norms are under strain from major powers acting more unilaterally. For India, it's a validation of its long-standing push to reform international institutions to better represent developing nations. It also has real-world stakes for Indian students and skilled workers, as New Zealand positions itself as an alternative destination amid tightening immigration policies in countries like the United States.
Test yourself
1. What is the main occasion prompting this interview with New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon?
2. According to Luxon, how long has it been since an Indian PM last visited New Zealand?
3. What shift does Luxon say is happening in global geopolitics?
4. Which three countries or actors does Luxon mention as examples of this geopolitical shift?
5. Why does Luxon say the rules-based system has historically benefited New Zealand?
6. What reform does Luxon agree India has long demanded regarding global institutions?
7. What three pillars does Luxon identify for India-New Zealand ties?
8. How does Luxon view rising anti-immigrant sentiment in Western countries in relation to New Zealand?
9. What reason does Luxon give for New Zealand avoiding strong anti-immigrant backlash?
10. Since when has Christopher Luxon served as New Zealand's Prime Minister?
Your notes
Source: The Indian Express