Indians residing in New Zealand played a significant role in the country’s economy, contributing 8.6% to the GDP in the year ending March 2025, as per a report by New Zealand-based RNZ. During this period, Indians added around $37.3 billion to the New Zealand GDP, with support for 220,910 full-time equivalent jobs, as highlighted by the Waitākere Indian Association.
The study, backed by the Ministry of Ethnic Communities and the Indian High Commission, revealed that nearly three-quarters of the economic contribution from the Indian community was through Indian-owned businesses. The demographic profile of the Indian community, characterized by youthfulness, higher education levels, and a rising number of self-employed individuals, indicates a continued growth in their economic impact on the country.
With 292,092 people of Indian heritage in New Zealand in 2023, constituting almost 6% of the population, Indians stood as the third-largest ethnic group in the country. Despite their relatively small population share, Kiwi Indians made a substantial economic contribution relative to their numbers.
According to the report, Kiwi Indian households further contributed a quarter through their consumption, while Indian international students and visitors accounted for the remaining 2%. In the fiscal year 2024, only 34,000 Kiwi Indian businesses were operational, collectively contributing an estimated $10 billion to the country’s economy in 2019, equivalent to 3.3% of the total GDP at that time.
Pratima Namasivayam, the chief executive of the Ministry of Ethnic Communities, emphasized that the findings underscored the growing, highly skilled Indian community in New Zealand, increasingly engaged in entrepreneurial activities and making a significant impact on the country’s economy. Census data from 2023 indicated that Kiwi Indians aged 15 and above had a median personal income of $51,600 per annum, surpassing the national average of $41,500.
