Narendra Modi (front row, right) visited New Zealand in 2001. Photo: Supplied
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon invited his Indian counterpart to undertake a reciprocal visit to New Zealand during his four-day trip to the South Asian nation in March.
If Prime Minister Narendra Modi does visit, it will be the Indian leader's second trip to New Zealand after visiting Wellington and Auckland in 2001 before he began his tenure as chief minister of Gujarat State from 2001 to 2014.
Modi has been India's prime minister since May 2014.
"It will be great to hear and see Prime Minister Narendra Modi again on New Zealand soil," said Suresh Ramji, co-founder of Indian Association Manukau New Zealand.
The association hosted Modi at its premises at Tui Road in Papatoetoe when he came to Auckland in 2001 after spending a few days in the capital.
Dinesh Pahuja, public relations officer at Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh New Zealand, said he had known Modi since they worked together in Indian Jammu and Kashmir in the 1990s.
"If memory serves me right, he was on a visit of Australia and New Zealand on a sponsored trip for young political leaders," Pahuja said.
"He came to Auckland for a day on a personal trip after spending three days in Wellington as part of the official programme. This was a few months before he became the chief minister of Gujarat."
Modi was sworn in as chief minister of Gujarat on 7 October 2001.
"Modi ji was widely known in Bhartiya Janata Party for his organisational skills," Pahuja said, using an honorific with Modi's name to denote respect. "That's what we learnt from him - planning in detail, planning in advance."
Balu Mistry, an official at Indian Association Manukau New Zealand in the early 2000s, recalled Modi's desire to know more about the achievements of the Indian diaspora in New Zealand during his visit.
Prithi Pal Singh Basra, then-president of the New Zealand Central Indian Association, recalled how appreciative he was of Modi's grasp of grassroot issues.
"Modi seemed to know a lot about the problems of common people, which was very impressive," Basra said.
Arvind Dullabh attended a community function for Modi in 2001, noting how the future prime minister took a special interest in how the diaspora was attempting to preserve Indian culture in New Zealand.
"He was very happy when we told him about the Gujarati language school we have been running for years at our premises in South Auckland," Dullabh said.
Pahuja, who was instrumental in bringing Modi to Auckland, said the Indian community looked forward to welcoming the prime minister whenever he decided to accept Luxon's invitation.
"His down-to-earth behaviour even after becoming one of the most popular leaders in the world's largest democracy is praiseworthy," he said. "We eagerly await his arrival to our shores soon."
