New India Trade Deal Opens Strategic Path for Mātauranga Māori and Wellness Exports

A significant diplomatic milestone was reached as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepared to arrive in Auckland on Thursday for the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand in 40 years. This historic occasion is underpinned by a new Free Trade Agreement (FTA) designed to reset the economic partnership between the two nations, with a specific focus on the potential for Māori-led exports. Writing for the New Zealand Herald, trade and commerce strategist Mallika Janakirama highlighted that while much of the public debate has focused on dairy access and tariff reductions, the true opportunity lies in the intersection of traditional knowledge and modern industry. Janakirama noted that India has spent two decades formalising its AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) sector into a regulated economic system. New Zealand’s corresponding strength is mātauranga Māori and rongoā Māori—a living Indigenous knowledge system that is increasingly being scaled by Māori enterprises. According to Janakirama, this shared appreciation for traditional knowledge gives New Zealand a unique competitive edge that other trade partners like the UK or Australia cannot easily replicate. Māori businesses currently investing in natural products, biodiscovery, and wellness innovation are well-positioned to engage with the Indian market through mutual recognition of cultural value. The success of mānuka honey provides a blueprint for this engagement. By protecting provenance and investing in khoa (science), New Zealand created a premium category that the India FTA can now expand into broader health sectors. The agreement serves as a framework for deeper commercial engagement, encouraging Māori sectors to build long-term partnerships in India that go beyond simple tariff preferences. Janakirama argued that the real measure of the FTA’s success will be how it utilizes the unique advantage of where mātauranga Māori meets global trade.