Kōrero: Asia and New Zealand

Prime Minister David Lange visited India during his first overseas tour after taking office in 1984. It signalled a change of emphasis in foreign policy. The previous administration had angered the Indian government by closing the New Zealand High Commission in New Delhi and selling the land the Indian government had gifted for it. Lange reopened the High Commission and appointed Sir Edmund Hillary – who had great status on the subcontinent – as high commissioner.