NZ’s first-ever Defence Adviser to reside in India

New Zealand is set to strengthen its defence ties with India as Commodore Andy Dowling prepares to become the country’s first resident Defence Adviser in New Delhi.

Dowling, currently serving as New Zealand’s Defence Adviser to Australia, will move to New Delhi later this month with his wife, Claire. Although New Zealand has had Defence Advisers for India before, none were resident in India.The three-year posting marks the first time the role will be undertaken full-time from India, rather than being cross-accredited from another country.

“By having a Defence Adviser in India, it will allow us to understand their system better to identify and explore opportunities for our two nations to work together,” he said.

“The New Zealand Defence Force had a busy year last year with India – Te Kaha visiting, CTF 150, the first Ministry of Defence to Ministry of Defence talks – but we need our interactions with them to be sustainable. We’re not going to turn up with a frigate every week. But I’ll soon be in a place to have the dialogue and spot opportunities.”

Commodore Dowling said maintaining a strong relationship with India requires a focus on defence and security. “These are their most important considerations. The neighbourhood they live in is quite a tough one.”

Commodore Dowling’s appointment comes after heightened engagement between New Zealand and India last year, including Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s visit to India in March, which led to the signing of the India-New Zealand Memorandum of Understanding for Defence Cooperation. The agreement aims to strengthen bilateral defence ties and establish regular defence engagement between the two nations.

Last year, New Zealand’s frigate HMNZS Te Kaha visited Mumbai while deployed to Command Task Force 150 in the Western Indian Ocean to target drug trafficking. New Zealand led CTF 150 in 2025, with India as second-in-command, seizing seven tonnes of narcotics between April and June.

Familiar with India through his role in Australia, Commodore Dowling has visited the country four times in the past year. He highlighted India’s growing international defence role, noting the evolution from the 1991 ‘Look East’ policy to the 2014 ‘Act East’ strategy.

Commodore Dowling emphasised India’s respect for New Zealand, calling the country “the ‘honest broker’ in the world.” He pointed to similarities in naval operations, training, and equipment that could support collaboration.

“I was asked midway through last year, is this something Claire and I would like to do? We saw it as a great opportunity and adventure. It’s not often you get to set up something from scratch. It’s a real privilege we’re eager to grasp with both hands.”