As Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke at a large gathering of the Indian community in Auckland, he fondly remembered his initial trip to New Zealand at the beginning of the millennium. He shared that during that visit, he received special gifts, including a muffler, cap, and glove, one of which he had brought with him to the ‘Kia Ora Modi’ event. PM Modi expressed gratitude for the warm wishes of 140 crore Indians and mentioned his pride in being the first Indian Prime Minister to visit New Zealand in four decades.
Members of the Indian diaspora warmly welcomed PM Modi, recalling his 2001 visit where he emphasized the importance of preserving Indian culture and traditions. Dinesh Pahuja, a member of the Indian community in New Zealand, recounted PM Modi’s earlier visit to a Gujarati school before he became the Chief Minister of Gujarat. During this visit, PM Modi stressed the significance of incorporating Indian values and culture into the education system to keep children connected to their heritage and informed about India’s progress.
While visiting a Gujarati school in New Zealand, PM Modi suggested integrating cultural values and heritage into the curriculum to ensure that young children not only learned the language but also remained proudly attached to their Indian roots and values. His focus was on fostering a deep understanding of Indian culture among the youth to strengthen their connection to the country.
