Trade Minister Todd McClay greets Indian President Droupadi Murmu at Auckland Airport on Wednesday. Photo: Supplied
Indian President Droupadi Murmu has arrived in Auckland on a three-day state visit.
India's head of state travels to Wellington tomorrow to hold bilateral talks with Governor-General Cindy Kiro, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters before attending a state dinner.
She will be officially welcomed at Government House on Thursday morning.
Murmu is also scheduled to attend the New Zealand International Education Conference in the capital before returning to Auckland on Friday.
She will meet members of the Indian community in Tāmaki Makaurau on Friday evening before flying out to Timor-Leste.
Luxon said the visit showed New Zealand was a trusted and supportive bilateral and regional partner to India.
India's Ministry of External Affairs said the visit would provide further impetus to relations between the two countries.
This is only the second visit by an Indian head of state after then-President Pranab Mukherjee travelled to New Zealand in 2016.
Murmu, who is the second female and the first person from a tribal community to hold the position, is expected to present a floral tribute at the Mahatma Gandhi statue at Wellington train station.
She will also participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Pukeahu National War Memorial in the capital.
