There are huge untapped tourism and trade opportunities between New Zealand and India, a former high commissioner to India says.
Auckland Airport Photo: 123RF
Graeme Waters wrote a report on the relationship between the two countries for the Asia New Zealand Foundation.
The report said tourist numbers in each direction had more than doubled in the last ten years - last year about 46,000 Indian tourists visited here, while over 50,000 New Zealanders made the trip to India.
Mr Waters said he was impressed how dynamic the Indian community in New Zealand was, and how it continued to grow.
But he said better airline connections would bring more tourist dollars to New Zealand, and better trade would open the door for hundreds of businesses.
Mr Waters said New Zealand's trade with India was only about 10 percent of what we traded with China.
"It's a bit humbling to look at the stats compared to China and to reallise that we're only operating at about a tenth of the level we do with China, so huge scope for advancement and lots of cultural advantages in doing so."