Quad, migration, sports diplomacy – India & New Zealand’s bilateral ties growing, says NZ envoy

NZ High Commissioner David Pine emphasises growing convergence of interests in Indo-Pacific between two countries and his government’s keen interest in engagement with Quad.

David Pine, High Commissioner of New Zealand to India, in conversation with senior journalist Indrani Bagchi at the Ananta Centre | Keshav Padmanabhan | ThePrint

New Delhi: Hailing the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue as a “very good vehicle” for engagement, New Zealand High Commissioner to India David Pine said Friday that Wellington has signalled its interest in the Quad, the AUKUS and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF).

At the ‘Ambassador Series’ event organised by the Ananta Centre in New Delhi, the New Zealand envoy said, “I would take the signal from our foreign minister to [US] Secretary [of State] [Antony] Blinken as a very open-minded signal towards how we would engage with the Quad…I think the signal is clear.”

Pine, who is also New Zealand’s High Commissioner designate to Sri Lanka, added, “Whether the Quad itself decides to formalise them and thinks about a more systematic way of engaging with other members is for the Quad to decide, but it is certainly a conversation we would be interested in.”

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue is a diplomatic partnership among India, Australia, Japan and the US, aimed at supporting an ‘open, stable and prosperous’ Indo-Pacific and making it ‘inclusive and resilient’.

In May 2023, the leaders of the four nations released a joint vision statement at the Quad summit in Australia. The next meet is scheduled to be hosted by India in 2024.

The AUKUS is a trilateral security partnership for the Indo-Pacific region between Australia, the UK and the US. In 2023, the three partners announced a plan to produce a nuclear-powered submarine capability in Australia as soon as possible, according to the US Department of Defence.

The New Zealand government, however, declared the country as a ‘nuclear-free zone’ in 1987, which has remained a part of its foreign policy ever since and poses a “dilemma” with respect to deeper engagement with the AUKUS, according to Pine. He pointed out that Wellington has not hinted at moving away from this policy, but has made clear that it would be willing to see how the situation develops in future.

India & New Zealand: Interests ‘converging’

On the bilateral ties between New Delhi and Wellington, the High Commissioner said that their interests have been converging in the Indo-Pacific and that the bilateral relationship has been improving, especially because of “immigration, immigration, immigration”.

“India was actually the only country that really featured in our election campaign, and it featured in an entirely positive way with both major parties trying to outbid each other on how they were going to lift the [bilateral] relationship,” he said.

Pine was referring to the October 2023 general election in New Zealand, which saw the National Party replace the Labour party-led government. Christopher Luxon took over as the prime minister. “They [National Party] have promised to get the [New Zealand] prime minister to India within the first year of the new government’s term, and we are working closely with Indian colleagues to make that happen,” the envoy said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters visited India from 10 March to 13 March.

The diplomat also said, “We have seen a great step-up in the relationship. What is behind that, I think, is a greater appreciation on both sides of how much our interests in the Indo-Pacific are converging. I wonder sometimes if we have done as good a job explaining who we are and who our friends are.”

Speaking of New Zealand and India’s spirited focus on cricket, Pine added that Wellington is keen to expand the sporting relationship between the two countries. He mentioned that in 2026, New Zealand plans to celebrate the centenary of the Indian Army hockey team’s 1926 tour of the country.

The tour is said to be India’s first foreign tour in the sport of hockey. It also saw the emergence of Dhyan Chand as one of the most popular Indian sportspersons in history.

The High Commissioner highlighted that the Indian team’s visit subsequently transformed the sport in New Zealand. He also mentioned that his government is hoping to host Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2026.

Pine’s tenure as the New Zealand High Commissioner to India is ending soon. He is set to be replaced by Patrick Rata, as announced by the New Zealand government last month.

(Edited by Mannat Chugh)