Visit to New Zealand by Mrs Sumitra Mahajan, Hon Speaker, Lok Sabha, India 17–22 September 2016 Background The purpose of the visit by Mrs Sumitra Mahajan, Speaker of the 16th Lok Sabha (India’s Lower House), was to build parliamentary links with India, the world’s largest democracy, and to continue the impetus of high-level visits between India and New Zealand. As well, the visit was intended to provide Mrs Mahajan with opportunities to meet with a range of people involved in the India–New Zealand relationship during calls in Auckland and Wellington. Mrs Mahajan’s visit to New Zealand would follow that of India’s first woman Lok Sabha Speaker in 2012 and that of the President of the Republic of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee. The President visited New Zealand from 30 April to 2 May 2016. It was the first visit to New Zealand by an Indian President. Rt Hon David Carter MP, Speaker of the House of Representatives, meeting with Mrs Sumitra Mahajan, Hon Speaker of the Lok Sabha, and the Indian delegation Meetings within Parliament A meeting with Hon Bill English, Acting Prime Minister of New Zealand, was held in the late afternoon on the day the delegation arrived in Wellington. Mr English expressed New Zealand’s condolences following an attack in Uri, Kashmir. The Acting Prime Minister’s discussion with Mrs Mahajan included terrorism, trade relations, investment, New Zealand’s agricultural expertise and technology, energy and New Zealand’s Indian population. Acting Prime Minister Hon Bill English with Mrs Sumitra Mahajan, Hon Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Dr Parmjeet Parmar MP, Co-Chair of the New Zealand–India Parliamentary Friendship Group, and some members of the Indian delegation: Prem Chand Gupta MP, Ranvijay Singh Judev MP, Shri Padmakar Alias Anil Gulabrao MP, Shrimati Darshana Vikram Jardosh MP and Shri Prem Singh Chandumajra MP. The following day, Mrs Mahajan met with Rt Hon David Carter, Speaker of the House of Representatives, was hosted by the New Zealand–India Parliamentary Friendship Group and was introduced to the House. The meeting with Mr Speaker mainly covered discussions on parliamentary processes, the diversity in New Zealand’s Parliament, India–New Zealand linkages, energy and terrorism. The official dinner hosted by Mr Speaker was attended by Deputy Speaker Chester Burrows MP, Mr David Shearer MP, and Mr Mahesh Bindra MP, the Deputy Chair of the New Zealand–India Parliamentary Friendship Group. Meetings outside Parliament The delegation had a full programme concentrating on the New Zealand–Indian community ties in Auckland and Wellington/Lower Hutt. Mrs Mahajan and her delegation met with a range of business people and others involved in the New Zealand–India relationship in these cities. Visits to the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and Zealandia in Wellington enabled the delegation to gain more insight into New Zealand, and those delegation members that visited the Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre learnt about their programmes and agricultural techniques, and met with Indian students. The Indian delegation at Te Papa Tongarewa Conclusion The programme demonstrated the value New Zealand places on its engagement with India. It also enabled discussion on bilateral policy as well as parliamentary matters. It was a well-timed precursor to the visit by the New Zealand Prime Minister, Rt Hon John Key, to India in October 2016. The New Zealand–India Parliamentary Friendship Group, being led by three Indian community members of Parliament, was actively involved in aspects of the programme. The visiting delegation was cognisant of this and through the programme gained a real appreciation of the growth in the Indian diaspora in New Zealand and their part in New Zealand–India ties. Mrs Mahajan’s visit has helped reinforce New Zealand–India parliamentary linkages and should assist future parliamentary relationships and discussions on issues in Commonwealth and other fora for parliamentarians. Programme Saturday 17 September Arrival into Auckland Dinner hosted by the Indian High Commissioner Sunday 18 September Meeting with the Indian community hosted by the New Zealand Indian Central Association Dinner hosted by Mr Mahesh Bindra MP, including attendance by other members of the New Zealand–India Parliamentary Friendship Group Monday 19 September Travel to Wellington Tour of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Meeting with Hon Bill English, Acting Prime Minister Community reception hosted by the Indian Cultural Society Mrs Sumitra Mahajan, Hon Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Indian delegation and the High Commissioner of India, HE Mr Sanjiv Kohli, with Mark Mitchell MP, Chair of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee and other members of the New Zealand–India Parliamentary Friendship Group Tuesday 20 September Meeting with Rt Hon David Carter MP, Speaker of the House of Representatives Lunch with members of the New Zealand–India Parliamentary Friendship Group hosted by co-Chair of the Group, Mr Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi Mr Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi MP, Co-Chair of the New Zealand–India Parliamentary Friendship Group with Mrs Sumitra Mahajan, Hon Speaker of the Lok Sabha, HE Mr Sanjiv Kohli, High Commissioner of India, and Shri Anoop Mishra, Secretary General of the Lok Sabha Introduction to the House of Representatives and viewing question time Tour of Parliament Buildings Dinner hosted by Rt Hon David Carter MP, Speaker of the House of Representatives Wednesday 21 September Tour of Zealandia Visit to Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre, Masterton by a group of delegation members Thursday 22 September Travel to Auckland and departure from New Zealand Delegation Shrimati Sumitra Mahajan Hon Speaker, Lok Sabha Shri Prem Chand Gupta Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, Rashtriya Janata Dal Party Shri Prem Singh Chandumajra Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, Shiromani Akali Dal Party Shri Deepender Singh Hooda Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, India National Congress Party Shri C R Patil Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, Biju Janata Dal Party Shrimati Darshana Vikram Jardosh Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, Biju Janata Dal Party Shri Padmakar Alias Gulabrao Shirole Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, Biju Janata Dal Party Shri Ranvijay Singh Judev Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, Biju Janata Dal Party Shri Vivek K Tankha Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, India National Congress Party Shri Anoop Mishra Secretary General, Lok Sabha Shri Sunil Tated Principal Secretary to the Honourable Speaker Shri Cyril John Secretary to the Delegation, Joint Secretary, Lok Sabha Secretariat Shri Vidya Sagar Prasad Singh Director, Rajya Sabha Secretariat Shri Lalkithang Additional Director, Lok Sabha Secretariat Shri Pankaj Kshirsagar OSD (Media) to the Honourable Speaker Srimati Rashmi Roy Protocol Officer, Lok Sabha Secretariat Shri Hemant Kumar Lok Sabha Secretariat .