Indian Navy Chief Welcomed At New Zealand Naval Base In Auckland

Indian Navy Chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan was accorded a traditional Maori Powhiri welcome on Monday at Te Taua Moana Marae, the spiritual and cultural home of Royal New Zealand Navy personnel at HMNZS Philomel naval base in Auckland. The ceremonial welcome reflected the mutual respect and longstanding friendship between India and New Zealand, as well as their growing maritime cooperation.

The Indian Navy said in a post on X that the Powhiri represented manaakitanga, or the spirit of hospitality and welcome, and highlighted the cultural traditions of the New Zealand Navy. The ceremony marked the beginning of Admiral Swaminathan’s official visit, which is focused on further strengthening naval and maritime ties between the two countries.

During the visit, Swaminathan also interacted with Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand Muanpuii Saiawi and Consul General Madan Mohan Sethi. The Indian High Commission said the Navy Chief’s visit comes at a time when bilateral relations between India and New Zealand have gained momentum, alongside efforts to strengthen maritime cooperation.

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The Admiral arrived in Auckland following engagements in Australia and is scheduled to hold discussions with senior leadership of the Royal New Zealand Navy and New Zealand’s defence establishment. The talks are expected to focus on operational interaction, information sharing, training and professional exchanges between the two navies. He will also visit key operational and training establishments and interact with Royal New Zealand Navy personnel and officers undergoing professional military education.

The visit follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to New Zealand in July, during which India and New Zealand elevated their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership. The two countries also agreed to deepen cooperation in areas including defence and maritime security, providing broader momentum to their security partnership.

The Defence Ministry said the visit assumes significance following the recently concluded Maritime Cooperation Arrangement, which provides an expanded framework for practical maritime cooperation between India and New Zealand. It said the engagement reflects India’s efforts to deepen defence and maritime cooperation with Australia and New Zealand through sustained interaction, with a focus on contributing to peace, security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

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