Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm and enthusiastic welcome from the Indian diaspora upon his arrival in Auckland, New Zealand, on Friday evening, with community members describing the moment as "thrilling" and "unbelievable." The visit marks the first by an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand in 40 years.
Members of the Indian community who briefly interacted with PM Modi expressed pride and excitement over his visit.
"Absolutely thrilling to meet the Prime Minister today; he is recognised all over the world as a strong man, the most popular leader with the highest approval rating, who stands for his country, absolutely amazing," one member of the diaspora said.
Another community member said, "In 40 years, PM Modi is the first one to visit New Zealand. A very heartfelt welcome to PM Modi. As an Indian, I feel very proud."
"I am honoured to be here to welcome the Indian Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi ji, to New Zealand. It's a very warm welcome, Namaste Modi ji," another member of the Indian community said.
An excited young boy described meeting the Prime Minister as "an unbelievable moment" and thanked him for his work.
Another member of the diaspora said PM Modi's visit was a landmark moment for Indians living in New Zealand.
"Modi ji coming to New Zealand itself is a very fortunate event for the Indian diaspora, especially for those who live in Auckland. After 40 years, an Indian Prime Minister has come to New Zealand, and this will improve bilateral relations. Modi ji made us Indians very proud. We have never felt like this before in our lives," the community member said.
Many also expressed their joy at getting the opportunity to shake hands with the Prime Minister.
PM Modi acknowledged the warm reception and thanked the Indian community for its affection.
"The love and affection of New Zealand's Indian community touched me deeply. They have waited four decades for the visit of an Indian Prime Minister, and their extraordinary enthusiasm and warmth were visible today. Their bond with India remains unwavering," he posted.
Indian Embassy warns diaspora in US over impersonation scams
Meanwhile, Indian diplomatic missions in the United States have reported a sharp rise in complaints from members of the Indian diaspora being targeted by fraudsters impersonating embassy and consulate officials, according to a Hindustan Times report.
The report said Indian missions now receive several complaints every week from people receiving fraudulent calls from scammers using spoofed US phone numbers to pose as diplomats. Victims are allegedly asked to pay money to expedite travel documents or are falsely told that their India-based mobile numbers have been linked to criminal or terrorist activities.
Officials told the newspaper that the problem has persisted for the past seven to eight months, prompting embassy staff to spend considerable time responding to complaints and assisting victims. Indian missions have since issued advisories urging the diaspora to remain cautious of unsolicited calls claiming to be from diplomatic officials.
Several Indian-Americans have also shared their experiences on Reddit, describing sophisticated scams in which callers claimed to represent the Indian Embassy or Consulate. In one case, a victim was falsely informed that a SIM card issued in their name had been used for fraudulent activities and was pressured to transfer money to resolve a fabricated police investigation.
According to the report, complaints involving Indian-Americans surged from just eight cases in 2024 to 613 cases in 2025. Experts attribute the rise to advances in artificial intelligence, voice cloning and caller ID spoofing, which have made impersonation scams increasingly convincing.
The Indian Embassy in Washington said it is working with US authorities to tackle the issue while continuing to issue public advisories. It also reminded the diaspora that embassy officials never ask for money or sensitive personal information over the phone.
