New Delhi, July 10 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Auckland on Friday, marking the beginning of a historic visit to New Zealand - the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in four decades - with a packed agenda aimed at strengthening ties across a wide range of sectors.

Soon after landing, Modi thanked New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon for personally welcoming him at the airport and described the visit as a landmark moment in the relationship between the two countries.

"Reached Auckland a short while ago. Thankful to Prime Minister Luxon for the welcome at the airport," Modi said in a post on social media platform X.

"This visit is historic, being the first Prime Ministerial visit to New Z...