Auckland, July 9 -- Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to New Zealand "historic", Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand Muanpuii Saiawi on Thursday said it will mark the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Pacific country in 40 years and is expected to give fresh momentum to bilateral ties.

Speaking ahead of PM Modi's arrival on July 10, Saiawi said extensive preparations had been made in coordination with the New Zealand government to ensure the visit was both substantive and memorable.

"Tomorrow we will be receiving Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This will indeed be a very historic visit because it will be after 40 years that any Indian Prime Minister has come to New Zealand. I have been working very clo...