Who is Narendra Modi and why is he visiting New Zealand?

Explainer: One of the world's most powerful leaders is coming to New Zealand this weekend.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is making his first official visit to Auckland on the heels of New Zealand signing a free trade agreement with India.

Here's what you need to know about Modi and his visit.

Who is he?

Modi, 75, has been the prime minister of India since 2014, leading an estimated 1.43 billion people in the world's most populous country.

He's the third-longest serving leader in the country's history and heads the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

In 2024, he won a historic third term but his party lost an outright majority and needed coalition partners to form a government.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has called Modi's visit "historic," and India "a country of enormous importance to New Zealand's prosperity".

He'll be the first Indian prime minister to visit New Zealand since Rajiv Gandhi in October 1986. His mother, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, visited New Zealand in May 1968.

"We will also be celebrating the people-to-people connections between our two countries, with Kiwi-Indians comprising around 6 percent of New Zealand's population and making a significant contribution to our country," Luxon said.

In the 2023 Census, Indians overtook Chinese as the third-largest ethnic group in New Zealand after NZ European and Māori.

Why is he visiting New Zealand?

Our two countries have long had strong ties, as RNZ's Gaurav Sharma has reported.

The visit comes after the free trade agreement was officially signed in April, although it has yet to be ratified by Parliament.

Modi is tremendously popular among the Indian diaspora of overseas residents. Auckland leads the way with an estimated population of 175,794 Indians in 2023.

Many in the diaspora come from Gujarat, where Modi comes from and was the former chief minister from 2001 to 2014.

"This is a historic moment for our diaspora," Bhav Dhillon, former honorary consul of India in Auckland, told RNZ recently.

Modi has been to New Zealand once before in 2001, long before he became prime minister.

What's he going to do here?

It's a quick trip, and follows Modi visiting Australia and Indonesia as well this week.

Modi will arrive in New Zealand late Friday, and will be officially welcomed by Luxon on Saturday morning, followed by a bilateral meeting.

There will then be a New Zealand and India business leaders event and celebration, followed by a media standup with Luxon.

Opposition leader Chris Hipkins is also scheduled to meet with Modi.

There will also be an event marking 100 years of sporting ties between the two countries.

Then at 4.30pm on Saturday, the biggest event of Modi's visit is the "Kia Ora Modi" gathering, which may attract up more than 10,000 people, according to a community leader.

Guests were required to register online for the event, and registration is now closed.

Modi will then depart New Zealand late Saturday evening.

RNZ will be covering Modi's visit throughout the Matariki holiday weekend.

Will Modi's visit disrupt Auckland this weekend?

A police spokesperson told RNZ that a large security operation would be in place for Modi's visit. Training and drills for the visit had been carried out this week.

"Additional support from specialist groups are being deployed, including public order teams from across the country," police said.

"These specialist resources will be able to assist with supporter crowds or any other disruptions that may occur," police said.

"Given a visit of this stature, the public should expect there will be some disruptions in parts of the city through different points of the day."

Is Modi a controversial figure?

Modi's politics and that of his Bharatiya Janata Party are considered generally right wing and Hindu nationalist, and he's a longstanding member of Hindu nationalist group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, or RSS.

While he has been credited for India's rise on the global scene and economic prosperity, there have also been concerns about his actions on human rights, press freedom and crony capitalism, notably the impacts on the Muslim, Christian and Sikh populations in India.

There are likely to be some protests over his visit. Modi's own security team will reportedly be working with NZ authorities.

Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki has made videos calling for New Zealand to "purge" Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims in response to what he claimed was the persecution of Christians in India under Modi.

Police reportedly recently seized guns from Tamaki's residence, which he claims was linked to his comments about India.

The Race Relations Commissioner called his comments "appalling," but Tamaki has denied inciting violence or engaging in hate speech.

There have also been past rallies in New Zealand over calls for a separatist Sikh homeland in India called Khalistan.

Sikhs for Justice says it is a human rights group but Modi has specifically criticised the US-based organisation's activities in New Zealand and they have been declared a terrorist orgnisation in India.

In politics closer to home, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has also attacked the trade deal, claiming it "covertly" changed immigration settings for Indians - which Luxon and Trade Minister Todd McClay have denied.

Most business organisations have said they support the deal.

"This visit is about celebrating a winning partnership between New Zealand and India - one that delivers for our people and supports greater prosperity and security for both our countries," Luxon said in announcing the visit.