Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, 11 July drew striking parallels between India's ancient cultural traditions and the indigenous Maori heritage of New Zealand, telling a large gathering of the Indian diaspora that both civilisations are anchored in the same values of respect, compassion, and wholehearted care for others. Speaking at the 'Kia Ora Modi' event at Spark Arena in Auckland, Modi said the convergence runs far deeper than geography or language.

A Shared Commitment to Indigenous Culture

Modi opened by underlining what he called a defining bond between the two nations — their shared instinct to celebrate and protect indigenous heritage. 'There is another very major similarity between India and New Zealand. This similarity is that of our indigenous culture. It is about celebrating and protecting indigenous culture. And today, I especially want to remember the Maori society,' he said.

The Prime Minister had earlier received a traditional Maori welcome featuring the iconic Haka upon his arrival in Auckland — a ceremonial dance combining rhythmic chanting, synchronised foot-stomping, body slapping, and expressive facial gestures. Historically performed before battle, the Haka today marks achievements, welcomes distinguished guests, and reinforces community solidarity.

Manaakitanga and Atithi Devo Bhava: Same Feeling, Different Words

The most resonant moment of Modi's address came when he connected the Maori concept of Manaakitanga — showing respect, giving love, and caring for something with all one's heart — to India's own principle of Atithi Devo Bhava, the Sanskrit phrase meaning 'the guest is God'.

'There is a very beautiful word in Maori culture — Manaakitanga. This means showing respect, giving love, and taking care of something with all your heart. In India, we also say 'Atithi Devo Bhava'. The words are different, the environment is different, the attire is different, and the languages are different, but the feeling is exactly the same,' Modi said.

On the Haka itself, he was equally emphatic: 'I have not seen Haka only as a performance; I have seen the soul of a society in Haka. It has courage, self-respect, and faith in our ancestors. And it is a feeling of the collective strength of the entire community.'

Whanau and the Indian Idea of Family as Institution

Modi also drew a parallel between the Maori concept of Whanau — a word for family that encompasses multiple generations, relationships, and the broader community — and India's own understanding of the family unit. 'In India, we do not consider family just a social arrangement; for us, family is an institution,' he said, noting the close resemblance between the two traditions.

Kaitiakitanga and India's Environmental Ethos

Extending the cultural comparison to ecology, Modi cited the Maori principle of Kaitiakitanga — the responsibility of guardianship over nature — and linked it to the Sanskrit verse 'Mata bhumiḥ putroahaṃ pṛthivyaḥ', meaning 'the Earth is my Mother, and I am her son'.

'The concept of Kaitiakitanga teaches us that we are not the owner of the environment but protectors,' he said, adding that India has channelled this philosophy into programmes such as 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' and the 'Prakrutik Kheti Mission' for earth conservation.

Significance of the Auckland Address

The 'Kia Ora Modi' event drew a large gathering of the Indian community in New Zealand, and Modi's address was notable for its depth of cultural engagement — going well beyond the usual diplomatic pleasantries to articulate a philosophical kinship between two civilisations separated by thousands of kilometres. This is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand in nearly a decade, lending the cultural outreach added diplomatic weight. How these shared values translate into concrete bilateral outcomes in trade, education, and people-to-people ties will be closely watched in the weeks ahead.