India's standing among New Zealanders continues to strengthen, a new report has found, even though perceptions about the South Asian giant seem to be polarising.

The revelations are contained in 'Perceptions of Asia and Asian Peoples (2026)' – an annual report prepared since 2019 by the Asia New Zealand Foundation, which works closely with the foreign affairs ministry.

As India becomes more visible in New Zealand's understanding of Asia, attitudes towards it are becoming less neutral and more defined, the report has found.

Trust is becoming more polarised, political differences are becoming more apparent, and New Zealanders remain far less knowledgeable about South Asia than they are about other parts of the region.

The results paint a picture of a country whose importance is increasingly recognised, even as public understanding struggles to keep pace.

"India ranks among the top countries New Zealanders see as important to New Zealand's future, sitting third overall," Asia New Zealand Foundation's chief executive Suzannah Jessep told Awaaz.

"That is a significant marker of how much the relationship has evolved. New Zealanders increasingly recognise that India matters not only as a major economy, but as a country that will help shape the region New Zealand operates in."

The survey found 54 per cent of New Zealanders view India as a friend or close friend, while just nine per cent see it as a threat.

That represents a steady rise in goodwill. In 2019, only 42 per cent of New Zealanders viewed India as a friend. By 2026, that figure had climbed to 54 per cent.

On those measures, India compares favourably with many countries in Asia. It is viewed more positively than China, Indonesia and Vietnam, while maintaining relatively low threat perceptions.

If those were the only numbers, the story would be straightforward. The more intriguing findings emerge when New Zealanders are asked how much they trust India to act responsibly in the world.

"New Zealanders' trust in India is becoming more polarised," the report notes.

Twenty-three per cent of respondents now express high trust in India, up from 20 per cent in the previous survey. At the same time, low trust has also increased, rising from 22 per cent to 26 per cent.

The neutral middle is shrinking. Less than half of New Zealanders now express neutral trust in India, down from 52 per cent in the previous survey to 46 per cent this year.

In effect, more New Zealanders are making up their minds about India. The political breakdown reveals a similar pattern.

Among right-leaning voters, 57 per cent view India as a friend. Yet almost one in five, about 19 per cent, view India as a threat.

Among left-leaning voters, 46 per cent see India as a friend, while only eight per cent see it as a threat.

India is one of a handful of countries identified by the survey as being perceived differently across New Zealand's political spectrum.

The findings highlight an unusual dynamic. Right-leaning New Zealanders are simultaneously more likely than those on the left to see India positively and more likely to see it negatively.

The survey does not explore why. But it clearly shows that attitudes towards India are becoming more politically differentiated.

The same tension appears in another part of the report.

When New Zealanders were asked which Asian country is most "likeminded" to New Zealand – meaning it shares a similar approach to engaging with people and the world – only four per cent selected India.

Singapore topped the list with 25 per cent, followed by Japan on 20 per cent. The Philippines came third on six per cent.

India finished level with China and South Korea on four per cent.

The finding suggests New Zealanders increasingly regard India as important and generally friendly, but do not necessarily see it as a country that resembles New Zealand in outlook or approach.

That distinction matters because it sits alongside another striking result.

While half of New Zealanders see South Asia as important to New Zealand's future, only 29 per cent say they possess at least a fair amount of knowledge about the region.

South Asia remains the least understood part of Asia among New Zealanders. The gap between importance and understanding runs through much of the survey.

India is increasingly present in New Zealanders' thinking about Asia. The report notes that when respondents were asked what comes to mind when they hear the word "Asia", China remained the dominant association, but Japan, India and Thailand were among the countries most frequently mentioned.

One respondent observed that Asia is "often misrepresented... used in New Zealand to refer to China/Japan/Korea but also includes India and so much more".

Another respondent, who identified as South Asian, reflected the dominance of East Asia in public perceptions.

"I think of East Asia, despite being South Asian myself, mostly China since it's the dominant power there."

Jessep believes younger New Zealanders may help close that knowledge gap over time.

"Younger New Zealanders continue to be more favourable towards Asia, and we see that reflected in attitudes towards countries such as India," she said.

"That is encouraging for the future of New Zealand's engagement with the region. But the survey also shows there is still more work to do to deepen knowledge and understanding of South Asia."

The survey also highlights the growing number of practical connections between New Zealand and India.

India was the second most visited destination in Asia for New Zealand travellers in the year to January 2026, behind mainland China and ahead of Indonesia and Japan.

Cricket, meanwhile, emerged as the most followed Asian sport among New Zealanders who engage with Asian sporting competitions. The report specifically cites the Indian Premier League and T20 competitions as major drivers of interest.

One respondent described sport as a pathway to cultural understanding.

"We are fans of the cricket players and curious about their lives and where they live and the cultural practices of their country. I am Indian South African and my ancestors were from India, so our cultures are similar."

Another said following sport had taught them about cultural practices during international tours, recalling "Indian team members had restricted eating due to Ramadan during a tour."

The survey suggests India now ranks among the countries New Zealanders consider most important to New Zealand's future.

But as India becomes more visible, attitudes towards it are becoming more defined. For years, India's challenge in New Zealand was visibility.

The 2026 survey suggests visibility is no longer the issue. The more pressing challenge may be ensuring that understanding keeps pace with importance.