Sister Cities New Zealand newsletter August 2017

N E W S L E T T E R August 2017

From the board It is our pleasure to advise you that that Board has recently appointed two new advisors.

Kura Moeahu, Maori Advisor

Ko Taranaki, ko Pukeatua ngā maunga, He uri tēnei o ngā iwi o Taranaki, o Ngāti Toa hoki. Ko Ngāti Manuhiakai, ko Mangatuku, ko Ngāti Moeahu ētehi o ngā hapū. Huri ki tua ki te kāhui o mahara e hahana ana iho ki runga ki te aitanga a Tiki. Nō reira rātou te pō, tātou te ao tēnā tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Kura has strong tribal affiliations to Te Ātiawa, Ngā Ruahinerangi, Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Mutunga, Taranaki Tūturu, and Ngāti Toa and plays an active role in the long term and future development of tribal matters.

He has held many Māori advisory positions and continues to provide support and advice to both the Lower Hutt and Wellington City Council as well as a number of government departments including Te Papa Tongarewa. He is highly sought after for his knowledge in Te Reo me ngā Tikanga (Māori Language and Protocols).

He currently holds the position of Kaiwhakarite in Parliament ensuring and maintaining that the tikanga of Te Ātiawa is upheld.

He has been responsible for coordinating and facilitating state Pōwhiri (welcomes) on both Parliament grounds, Premiere House and in numerous venues throughout Wellington.

Kura holds a Master’s degree in Te Reo Māori and Management and is a strong advocate for Te Reo me ngā Tikanga. He is often approached to give talks and facilitate discussions relating to Māori Kaupapa (matters).

He has held numerous positions on various boards and trusts at all levels and currently holds the following positions: · Chair, Te Rūnanganui o Te Ātiawa ki te Upoko o te Ika Inc · Chair, Waiwhetu Marae Trust · Chair, Ātiawa Toa FM Radio Station · Chair, Waiwhetu Pā Reservation No. 4 · Chair of the Harbour Island Kaitiaki Board · Chair, Weltec Māori Advisory Board · Deputy Chair, Wellington Māori Cultural Society · Taumata Kaumatua o Te Wānanga o Aotearoa · Tutor, Nga Uri o Tamarau Happily married to Alishia and with a blended family of six, he enjoys having them all around the table laughing and singing, and especially the opportunity to bend the rules for their two

lovely granddaughters. In his spare time he enjoys reading, composing waiata and playing the guitar.

I am humbled to act in the capacity as the Kaupapa Maori Advisor to Sister Cities New Zealand.

Ma te tomairangi hei whakamakuku.

Byron Sanders, Education Advisor

Byron has extensive experience in education, first as a primary school teacher and now working for the Ministry of Education in the field of educational psychology. Byron holds a Bachelor of Teaching, a Bachelor of Arts (Education and Psychology), a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (Education), and a Master of Arts (Education) - all from the University of Otago. He is currently study towards a Postgraduate Certificate in Educational Psychology from Massey University.

Byron’s first interaction with sister cities came from an exchange to Japan (Kumagaya/Invercargill) and through learning Japanese at school. He is a member of the Asia New Zealand Foundation’s Leadership Network and also a member of their Advisory Board. Byron has been a Youth Ambassador for Sister Cities New Zealand representing the Otago and Southland regions since 2016.

N E W S L E T T E R August 2017

Introductions of new members of SCNZ Wellington San Francisco Society For several years now, Wellington City has been talking about building a closer relationship with San Francisco — a city with which we have so much in common.

The Wellington San Francisco Society was established as an independent incorporated society in June 2016 to help make this dream a reality by identifying activities and projects that will promote a rich, interesting and mutually beneficial flow of people, information, finance, goods and services between our two cities. We currently have twelve committee members based in Wellington, and approximately 60 members across Wellington and the San Francisco-Bay area.

If you think that strengthening communications, commerce and cultural exchanges between our two great cities is a good idea and you'd like to become a member or supporter, sign up on our Facebook page or visit our website at wellingtonsanfrancisco.org.

Wainuiomata High School Wainuiomata High School is a State Coeducational High School situated in Wainuiomata, Lower Hutt, Wellington.

Currently there are 680 students at the High School and 22 International Students from Japan, Germany, Thailand, Finland, France Iceland and Chile. We are fortunate to have Mr Kataoka teaching at Wainuiomata High School. He teaches the Japanese Language classes at the High School and takes our Japanese International Students into the Japanese Embassy to assist with teaching Japanese.

Wainuiomata High School is wanting to establish Sister School relationships with schools in Japan, Thailand, Korea and China in the next year. We are wanting to have as many of our students and Teachers travel to International Schools and for Wainuiomata High School to host International Students in our High School. This brings the world to our students.

Wainuiomata High School is part of WIN (Wainuiomata International Network). WIN is made up of Wainuiomata Primary School, Wainuiomata Intermediate School, and Wainuiomata High School. All three schools are Signatories to the Code of Practice and able to host International Students. This is a unique arrangement within the Wellington region and one that we are all very proud to be part of.

Wainuiomata High School receives strong support from Hutt City Council with regards to International Students and meet with them every month to discuss International Student matters. We are fortunate that HCC have existing strong Sister City relationships. This is extremely beneficial to Wainuiomata High School.

We are excited with our Sister School relationship building and look forward to many wonderful experiences for our students and hosting.

Virginia Wilson International Dean, Wainuiomata High School

AFS NZ AFS Intercultural Programs is an international, voluntary, non-governmental, non-profit organization that provides intercultural learning opportunities to help people develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to create a more just and peaceful world.

Whether you are in high school, at a university or a teacher, AFS has the right program for you! Go to school, learn another language, cultural internships and for teachers we have immersion programmes for language teachers to head overseas and teachers coming to New Zealand on Educational Advantage (from China, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and more) to engage student learning and share with welcoming host families, we are looking for host families and welcoming schools all year round. contact prue.elwood@afs.org for more or visit www.afs. org.nz

NZCFS Wellington The New Zealand China Friendship Society Wellington branch was founded in 1956.

Activities include monthly meetings featuring talks and activities about aspects of Chinese culture, current affairs and trade; and a major banquet each year at Chinese New Year. Monthly meetings are held at Connolly Hall, Guildford Tce (off Hill Street) March to November on the third Wednesday at 5.45 pm followed by an optional buffet Chinese meal at the hall.

Supports a Youth Group (www.nzcfsyouth.org) which organises activities to promote integration of Chinese and New Zealand culture.

The Branch also sponsors a weekly Mandarin Corner where those wishing to improve or retain their Chinese language skills mix with native speakers. From August 2013, Mandarin Corner was re-launched according to an agreement with the VUW Confucius Institute. The weekly social gathering for conversational Chinese practice is now managed by a core team of Mandarin Language Assistants at the VUW CI. These are held every Saturday afternoon from 3.15-5 pm during school term in Seminar Room 103, 24 Kelburn Parade, Victoria University of Wellington.

The NZCFS Wellington Branch supports Wellington's the Sister Cities link with Xiamen and Beijing, and keeps close contact with the other local Chinese associations.

N E W S L E T T E R August 2017

A monthly newsletter is published with details of current activities. nzchinasociety.org.nz/wellington-branch

Christchurch UK Sister City Committee The Christchurch UK Sister City Committee has recently joined Sister Cities New Zealand. Despite the tyranny of distance for the committee, it is very active.

Recent activities include; Brockenhurst Memorial Scholarship and Memorial Service, Global Leadership Programme, a Weather Vane installation project, and a

St Georges Day Dinner.

Looking forward We will continue to build relationships with Christchurch, Dorset, England, the United Kingdom and indeed Europe.

We look forward to the England Cricket team’s tour and the unveiling of the weather vane; hosting British dignitaries including the Dean of Christchurch, Oxford, the Very Reverend Professor Martyn Percy and his wife Rev Dr Emma Percy; establishing the Brockenhurst Memorial Scholarship; WW1 Centennial Memorial Commemorations (such as Le Quesnoy); the second Annual St George’s Dinner; and much much more.

Oasis in central Auckland blooms again

Fukuoka City Council Vice Chairperson Mr Masaaki Ishida, Mayor Phil Goff, Mayor Takashima of Fukuoka City, Consulate-General of Japan Mr Yoshitaka Yokoyama, Waitematā Local Board member Vernon Tava and Albert-Eden-Roskill Councillor Cathy Casey

Tranquil, authentic and beautiful are just some of the words to describe the restored Fukuoka Garden, which opened on 17 July at its new location in Western Springs Lakeside Park.

The garden replaces the original Fukuoka Friendship Garden built in Auckland Zoo, which was given to Auckland in 1989 from Japan’s Fukuoka City in recognition of the sister-city relationship.

Mayor Phil Goff says Auckland Council has worked closely with the city of Fukuoka to re-establish the garden in its new home.

“Auckland and Fukuoka have been sister cities for more than 30 years. The Fukuoka Garden recognises the strong bond between our two cities and it’s great that we can join together today to celebrate a wonderful gift to our city and an important relationship that brings our cultures closer together,” he says.

“The relocation of the Fukuoka Garden from its original site was part of an expansion plan for the Auckland Zoo. The garden’s redevelopment has been an opportunity to collaborate closely with Fukuoka City, and deepen our sister-city ties, to create an enhanced and more accessible

Japanese garden that all Aucklanders can enjoy.”

The new garden, which is 2.6 times larger than the original and free for people to enjoy, has a tea pavilion, waterfall and pond. It features over 1800 native Japanese and New Zealand species and incorporates items preserved from the original garden including four bonsai trees, paving stones, lanterns, a water basin and the entrance.

The design of the new garden was created by Fukuoka’s ZEN Environmental Design Ltd, with Fukuoka City Greenery Department and Professor Iekatsu Kubota, the designer of the original garden.

Auckland Council’s landscape architects have also worked closely with the Japanese-based designers to ensure the garden remains true to traditional Japanese design.

The garden’s opening was celebrated with a ceremony attended by Mayor Phil Goff, the Mayor of Fukuoka City, mana whenua, representatives from Fukuoka and Auckland Council and members of the Friends of Fukuoka Friendship Garden.

Opening hours 10am - 5.30pm winter • 10am - 6.30pm summer

N E W S L E T T E R August 2017

NZCFS and Yunnan Youxie Sign Memorandum of Understanding

By Vera Xu, pictures by Mu Liduo On 15 May 2017, the New Zealand China Friendship Society (NZCFS) and the Yunnan Provincial People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries of the People’s Republic of China (Yunnan Youxie) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The purpose of the MoU is to promote mutual understanding and friendship and establish friendly exchanges.

NZCFS National Vice President, Wellington Branch President Luke Qin JP signed the MoU on behalf of NZCFS with Ms Zhou Hong, President of Yunnan Youxie.

Youxie's delegation included Ms Zhou, Mr Peng Shaoyun from the Yunnan Foreign Affairs Office, and Mr Mu Liduo, Director of the Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, Nujiang Prefecture.

At the meeting, both parties agreed to begin friendly exchanges and cooperation in various forms in the fields of agriculture, technology, commerce, indigenous culture, youth development, education, tourism and sister city relationships.

Hiromi Morris, President of Sister Cities New Zealand was also present at the MoU signing. The Kunming City Mayor was invited to attend the second New Zealand-China Mayoral Forum to further strengthen the relationship between Kunming and New Plymouth.

Wellington Branch Vice President Nathalie Harrington and committee members Michael O'Neill and Vera Xu also attended the signing.

Left: Front row: Luke Qin and Zhou Hong. Back row l-r: Hiromi Morris, Vera Xu, Nathalie Harrington, Michael O’Neill and Peng Shaoyun Right: L-R: Luke Qin, Hiromi Morris, Zhou Hong.

Sayonara Gisborne, kia ora Nonoichi A group of students from Gisborne’s Sister City Nonoichi in Japan have been given a taste of New Zealand culture at Mokairau Station and Morere Hot Springs as part of an exchange programme with Lytton High School.

The 12 students have been billeted at Lytton High School students’ homes to get an authentic local experience.

Japanese is taught at Lytton High School and teacher Shingo Suematsu has been hosting the delegation, which includes eight members of the Nonoichi council.

The Sister City exchange has been going for 25 years and usually happens once every two years.It is the opportunity for students to experience another culture and language.

Nonoichi is a city in the South West of Japan. It has a bigger population (52,000) than Gisborne city (36,100) but covers only 13 square kilometres, over half the size of Gisborne city’s area. The group also visited Rotorua and Waitomo during their time here.

Reprinted with permission from Gisborne Herald. Originally published 5th August 2017.

The Nonoichi student and council delegation is pictured at Lytton High School before heading to Morere. Picture by Liam Clayton

N E W S L E T T E R August 2017

2017 JET Programme (Japan Exchange & Teaching) Update From Embassy of Japan The JET Programme is easily one of New Zealand’s most important and successful Japanese exchange programmes. Spanning more than three decades, with over 3000 Kiwi participants, it was an honour to be a part of this year’s cycle, seeing off more than 80 new JET Programme participants to placements all across Japan!

The JET Programme started in 1987, back when there were only 4 countries participating (with New Zealand being one of them), and there are now over 5,000 JETs spread across Japan from over 40 countries!

Most of the successful 2017 JET Programme participants from New Zealand arrived in Japan on Sunday 30 July, spending three exciting days at Tokyo Orientation before heading to their new homes around the country to promote internationalisation at a grass-roots level.

A number of these JETs have received placements in areas with sister city links with New Zealand, such as

Minoh City in Osaka, Beppu City in Oita, Yuasa-cho in Wakayama, and Shinagawa in Tokyo! It’s exciting to see these important connections maintained over the years, and we wish our JETs all the best for the year ahead, and look forward to welcoming them back to New Zealand with open arms when they choose to return from their JET Experience.

If you are interested in applying for the JET Programme, feel free to check out our website, or reach out to us by e-mail ( jicc@wl.mofa.go.jp) or phone (04 – 495-8333)!

Applications for the 2018 NZ JET Programme intake cycle open early October and close late November, so don’t delay.

For more information, see our JET Programme website: www.nz.emb-japan.go.jp/culture_education/JET.html or check out the NZ JET Programme Facebook page: www. facebook.com/JETProgrammeNZ

Successful 2017 JET Programme participants from Wellington enjoyed their “Itte-Rasshai” Farewell Dinner on Friday 28 July alongside Ambassador Takata the evening before their departure for Japan.

NZCFS Handcraft Tour of China, 9-28 April 2018 The visit of three women’s handcraft cooperative leaders from Northwest China to Christchurch, Nelson, Palmerston North, Rotorua and Auckland in November 2015 sparked a lot of interest among the local communities. The tour was a huge success, and those involved quickly realised the potential there was for a craft tour group from here to China.

Handcraft cooperatives and workshops visited throughout the journey will include embroidery, weaving, clay figurines, farmers’ painting (folk art), cloisonné, tie-dying, Dongba characters (ancient ‘hieroglyphic’ writing), paper cutting, straw pictures, and the chance

to do some hands-on craft work.

Meet the craft workers themselves and learn about the various aspects of their industry, from traditional styles to new product development, and from training and production through to marketing.

Fully escorted, 3 to 4-star, twin-share accommodation.

All inclusive price $7,950 (estimated, subject to currency exchange), includes domestic flights in NZ, all meals, etc, (excludes Chinese visa and insurances).

For expressions of interest and any enquiries, please contact tours@nzcfs.org.nz.

http://nzchinasociety.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Handcrafts-Tour-Itinerary.pdf

N E W S L E T T E R August 2017

Hutt-Minoh Teacher Exchange

By Michelle Gibson on behalf of MINTEX New Zealand culture.

Michelle and Ardis worked very hard fundraising to pay for expenses while in Japan and to help pay for expenses while the Japanese teachers are in New Zealand. Hutt City Council contributed some money towards airfares and Michelle and Ardis have raised thousands of dollars

On the 17th August two teachers will be arriving from our sister city Minoh, Japan. They will be visiting six schools and an early childhood centre in Lower Hutt.

Ms. Koike is a Year 5 teacher and Mr. Ariura is a Junior High School English teacher. While they are here, they will be teaching our students about Japanese culture and language, and learning about the New Zealand Education system. They are in Lower Hutt as the second part of the Inaugural Hutt - Minoh Teacher Exchange Programme.

Lower Hutt and Minoh celebrated the 20th Anniversary of their Sister City relationship in October 2015. During these celebrations Mayor Wallace and Mayor Kurata signed an agreement to formalise the establishment of the HuttMinoh Teacher Exchange Programme. Hutt City Council Projects Manager Linda Goss-Wallace and her Minoh City Office colleague, Noriko Ueno, worked together to establish this exchange opportunity for local teachers to experience educational similarities and differences and to embrace the culture and lifestyles in each country.

In October 2016 Michelle Gibson and Ardis O'Connor went to Minoh to visit schools and to see the Japanese education system at work. They taught the students English, and

during the past 14 months.

This exchange has provided an amazing opportunity for cross cultural encounters involving hundreds of young people in the two cities. There are now many young people in Minoh who have seen photos and videos of Lower Hutt and of New Zealand in general. This programme has opened up the horizons of young people and has planted dreams for their future travels. Judging from the Japanese students' "oohs" and" aaahs" while watching videos of Lower Hutt, they will head straight for the Days Bay wharf and the Hutt River Cycle trails when they visit. Thanks to Ms. Koike and Mr. Ariura, many students in Lower Hutt will soon see photos of Minoh's beautiful waterfall and KatsuoJi Temple in the hills above the city.

It is a joy for these two beautiful cities to have links for hundreds of young people.