Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, 11 July used the closing leg of his New Zealand visit to highlight his government's sustained efforts to preserve and honour Sikh heritage, addressing a large gathering of the Indian diaspora at the 'Kia Ora Modi' event in Auckland. Speaking with evident emotion, Modi cited a series of concrete steps — from retrieving sacred manuscripts from war-torn Afghanistan to building a ropeway in the high Himalayas — as evidence of what he called India's equal commitment to economy, ecology, and heritage.

Guru Granth Sahib Rescued from Afghanistan

Modi opened his heritage segment by recalling the evacuation of sacred forms of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji from Afghanistan during the crisis there. 'When a crisis struck Afghanistan, we brought the sacred forms of the Guru Granth Sahib to India with full respect,' he told the Auckland gathering. The episode, he argued, exemplified how India treats its civilisational inheritance — not as artefact but as living faith.

He also underscored that Gurudwaras worldwide have historically served as centres of selfless service. 'If someone comes hungry, they receive food. If someone is in distress, they receive support,' Modi said, before noting that FCRA-related compliance hurdles affecting seva at Sri Harmandir Sahib were flagged by community members and 'immediately resolved' by his administration.

Ropeway to Sri Hemkunt Sahib and Veer Bal Diwas

Modi drew attention to the government's decision to construct a ropeway to Sri Hemkunt Sahib, the high-altitude Sikh shrine nestled among snow-capped Himalayan peaks that remains inaccessible for much of the year. 'The route is very difficult, and very few people are able to do so,' he acknowledged, adding that the ropeway is specifically intended to ease access for elderly pilgrims.

He also cited the institutionalisation of Veer Bal Diwas on 26 December each year, observed in memory of the four Sahibzadas and Mata Gujri. 'Today, every child from Kerala to Assam is learning about the sacrifices of the four Sahibzadas,' Modi said, describing the day as 'a festival of inspiration for the entire country.'

Sacred Jode Sahib Reaches Patna Sahib

In one of the more personal anecdotes of his address, Modi spoke about the sacred Jode Sahib — the footwear of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji and Mata Sahib Kaur Ji — preserved for 300 years by the family of Union Minister Hardeep Puri. According to Modi, Puri's ancestors were servants of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and had brought the Jode Sahib safely to Delhi during Partition.

'His family wanted to hand over the sacred Jode Sahib to the Sikh community so that more and more people could see them,' Modi recounted. A committee was formed, Sikh tradition experts were consulted, and the artefacts were ultimately installed at Takht Sri Patna Sahib — the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. 'I am very happy that this sacred couple is now on the sacred land of Patna Sahib, and it is my good fortune to have witnessed that sacred occasion,' he said.

Diaspora Event and New Zealand Ties

The 'Kia Ora Modi' event drew a large turnout from the Indian community in New Zealand, with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon also joining the programme. Modi publicly thanked Luxon for his presence, describing it as reflecting 'the warmth he has for India and the Indian community.' After the event, Modi posted on X: 'The Indian community in New Zealand is one of the strongest pillars of our friendship. Addressing them in Auckland was a memorable experience.'

This was the concluding leg of Modi's New Zealand visit, and the Auckland address marked a deliberate effort to connect diaspora engagement with a broader civilisational narrative — one that the government has been building through a string of heritage-linked policy actions over recent years. The diaspora outreach is expected to continue as India deepens bilateral ties with Pacific-region nations.