Modi event in Auckland: Public registrations now open. Here's how to register
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon with Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in New Delhi in March 2025. (Supplied photo)
The total quota available in the general category has yet to be finalized.
General registrations are now open for the community reception being planned for Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s maiden visit to New Zealand in July, but the applications don't guarantee a seat just as yet.
The registration form can be accessed through the 'General Registration' tab on www.kiaoramodi.co.nz, a special-purpose website launched by organizers to manage the diaspora welcome gala.
The form asks applicants to provide their full name, email address, phone number, age, gender, nationality, current region, and the last four digits of their passport number as proof of identification.
The form also allows applicants to add family members before submitting the application.
A note at the bottom of the form states: “Registration does not guarantee you confirmation of seats”. That makes the process closer to an expression of interest than a confirmed ticketing system.
Sources familiar with the planning say organisers have not yet decided how many seats will be allocated through the general public registration route.
If the number of public registrations exceeds the final allocation, organisers are expected to use a draw to decide who receives tickets.
The update marks a significant development in the planning of what is likely to be one of the most sought-after Indian community events in New Zealand this year.
Until now, the model receiving the strongest support was understood to involve registered community organisations being allocated ticket quotas, which would then be distributed among their members after internal vetting.
Sources now say at least 200 community organisations have already registered for the event, underlining the scale of demand even before any public allocation is finalised.
The opening of public registrations suggests organisers are now moving ahead with that option, although the size of the allocation remains undecided.
The event is being organised under the Kia Ora Modi banner for Modi’s expected maiden visit to New Zealand as Indian prime minister. The exact date of the visit has yet to be announced, though it is expected in the second week of July.
Awaaz understands a security team from Delhi that visited Auckland earlier this month inspected only Spark Arena, effectively ruling out Eden Park as the venue for the community reception.
Eden Park had been attractive because of its larger capacity, with organisers estimating it could accommodate about 35,000 attendees. Spark Arena, by contrast, is fully enclosed but has a much smaller capacity of about 12,000 people.
The security assessment was expected to play a decisive role in the final venue decision. If Spark Arena is confirmed, demand is almost certain to far exceed available seats.
