On 15 October 2026, the Consulate General of India, Auckland,
hosted Culture Connect for Business, a session exploring how cultural
understanding, trust and relationships shape successful business
partnerships between India and New Zealand. Ms Pratishtha Purohit
shared insights into Indian business culture, while Ms Donna
Barlow-Rolleston brought the Māori perspective, highlighting the
shared values and common ground between Indian and Māori cultures.

The discussion considered how businesses can align cultural
expectations, build trust and develop lasting partnerships before
entering into trade, and participants exchanged views on cultural
intelligence and the Cultural Quotient (CQ), recognising that New
Zealand's multicultural identity and India's relationship-driven
business culture offer valuable opportunities for mutual
understanding. The key takeaway was that successful trade rests not
only on products and commercial opportunities but also on
relationships, respect, trust and an understanding of cultural values
- a foundation that will remain important as India–New Zealand
economic engagement expands under the Free Trade Agreement.