Motorcades, road closures and security cordons are expected across parts of Auckland as a major security operation continues following the arrival of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last night.
Modi, the highest-profile world leader New Zealand has hosted in a decade, touched down at Auckland International Airport on Friday night.
Operation Commander Inspector Grae Anderson said the police operation was well-advanced ahead of the visit, with additional support from specialist groups being deployed, including public order teams from across the country.
"These specialist resources will be able to assist with supporter crowds or any other disruptions that may occur," he said.
"Given a visit of this stature, the public should expect there will be some disruptions in parts of the city through different points of the day."
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the scale of security reflected the significance of the visit.
"It will be very significant, and that's purely because we've got a very significant world leader in town," Luxon said.
"As you'd expect, there will be intense security."
Supporters are expected to pack Auckland's Kia Ora Modi event as India Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives for the first visit by an Indian leader to New Zealand in 40 years. (Source: 1News)
Security consultant Lance Burdett said the visible security did not reflect the level of risk but rather months of preparation.
"Sometimes security operations look like an overkill. That's generally because nothing happened, and so that's the best operation you can have."
Much of the work occurred out of public view, he told 1News.
"The security team you don't see is where the real work is being done in the background — those that you don't see on the street. There's video surveillance, there's surveillance teams, there's just so much complexity behind it, and it happens for every visit."
Preparations for a VIP visit typically begin well in advance, with the visiting country's own protection personnel working alongside New Zealand Police, Burdett said.
"Somebody in the diplomatic protection squad from the country will be over here, from wherever they're coming from, and work with New Zealand Police to make sure that security is tight."
The process for visiting dignitaries was standardised, set through MFAT and Government, he said.
"Yes, the risk level might be slightly higher, however, it's still the same planning, still the same operation, still the same control."
On the potential for protest activity during the visit, Burdett said New Zealand had a strong track record of managing peaceful demonstrations, with protesters typically given guidance on designated areas.
"They are controlled, and they are given some heads up around where they are allowed to be and where they're not allowed to be, and if they step over that mark, then action will be taken."
He said the operation would involve multiple layers of security rather than a single measure, with cost a secondary consideration to the risk of something going wrong.
"There's layers, layers of security, not just one or two or three,"
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