India Country Profile
How do New Zealanders view the India?
This country profile is based on our latest New Zealanders’ Perceptions of Asia and Asian Peoples report. The results of the survey give a unique glimpse into the importance of India to New Zealanders. Perceptions of Asia presents the results from a survey of 2,300 New Zealanders, providing a unique glimpse into the importance of Asia to New Zealanders.
Importance to New Zealand's future
Fifty-nine percent of New Zealanders see India as important to New Zealand’s future, making it the third most important country in Asia after China and Japan.
India's importance to New Zealand's future
Q: How important do you think India is to New Zealand’s future?
Perceptions of Asia and Asiuan Peoples 2025
Two-way total trade between New Zealand and India was NZ$3.14 billion in the year to December 2024 (MFAT)
Twenty percent of New Zealanders have high trust in India to act responsibly in the world.
Friend and threat perceptions
Q: Do you view India as a close friend, friend, threat or major threat?
Perceptions of Asia and Asian Peoples 2025
How have perceptions changed since 2018
New Zealanders’ perceptions of India have been increasingly positive since 2018. While 45 percent of New Zealanders saw India as a friend in 2018, 54 percent view it as a friend today.
Friend or threat perceptions of India 2018-2024
Q: Do you view India as a close friend, friend, threat or major threat? (Y axis = percentage of respondents)
Perceptions of Asia and Asian Peoples 2025
In 2024, 54 percent of New Zealanders viewed India as a friend to New Zealand, up from 45 percent in 2018
Why do New Zealanders see India as a friend?
Trade ties and immigration between New Zealand and India are the key reasons for seeing India as a friend.
Perceptions of Asia and Asian Peoples 2025
A priority relationship
Forty-two percent of New Zealanders think New Zealand should invest extra effort in its relationship with India. Trade and economic opportunities are the leading reasons for wanting to strengthen ties, followed by India’s growing population.
When asked what New Zealand should prioritise in its relationship with India, 61 percent of New Zealanders said business, trade and investment, 18 percent said human rights, and seven percent said defence and security cooperation.
“India offers new and upcoming ideas for growth in infrastructure.”
Male, 25–29 years, Indian, Waikato
“A major source of high intelligence, high value jobs and a great market
for milk products.”
Male, 30–34 years, Indian, Auckland
Download the India Country Profile
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Download the full Perceptions of Asia 2025 report
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The Foundation's Research Programme commissions studies that support informed public conversations about New Zealand’s relationship with Asia. We also support the next generation of scholars through our Foundation Research Grants.
Our Asia in Focus programme provides expert analysis on on Asia and New Zealand-Asia relations.
