Building people-to-people and economic relationships www.sistercities.org.nz ISSUE 3 - 2011
NEWS & EVENTS Tauranga/Yantai celebrations
NATIONAL DIARY 2011 OCTOBER
4 - 9 Malvern Community Board is hosting a visit of nine people from Kami Yubetsu (Hokkaido) led by the mayor and council chairman to celebrate and participate in Art Week in Darfield. - Hutt City invites members on a business mission to Tempe, Arizona, USA a relationship which began 30 years ago. This long standing relationship is set to expand into a more economic focussed activity from this Council-led business mission. A bevy of significant businesses are based in Tempe including US Airways, Insight Enterprises, Limelight Networks, Lifelock, First Solar, the Salt River Project, Circle K, Fulton Homes, Edward Jones Investments and Mobile Mini. It is also home to the largest campus of Arizona State University. Contact: David Hancock, Visitor Development Manager, Hutt City Council 04 5703373 or 027 629 4254 - Darfield High School will host Japanese student Taisei Nagaya for three months as part of their exchange programme. NOVEMBER
2 - NZMTA AGM and luncheon, Northern Club, Princess St, Auckland noon to 2pm. Guest speaker Peter Baker. Need to book. until 6 - Porirua City Council is hosting a special visit from artist Bunmei Okabe who, following a rugby scrum mishap which left him partially paralyzed, four members of the New Zealand Universities Rugby Football team visited him and left a lasting impression. He has since become a successful artist specialising in clown paintings believing clowns bring people out of themselves (in the same way that he has fought to overcome the physical constraints of his body) and encourage people to see the best of life. Now 61, Mr Okabe will visit New Zealand to thank the team members personally and exhibit 50 of his paintings at Pataka Gallery. - Five Wellington artists to revisit Xiamen. Contact: liqin. mi@gmail.com 21-26 - Palm Desert delegation visiting Gisborne to celebrate 30th anniversary of their relationship. Programme includes an art and food festival from Palm Desert.
A week of cultural and recreational activities was held recently to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Tauranga’s sister city relationship with Yantai in China. The activities were designed to highlight and celebrate the two cities’ special relationship and cultural uniqueness and included: n a screening of Mao’s Last Dancer; n an exhibition of Chinese artefacts; n demonstrations of, and participation in, Chinese recreational activities such as: tai chi, mah-jong, lantern making, calligraphy, table tennis, etc; and n the promotion of special meals and prices at local Chinese restaurants.
In addition a cultural dance troupe from the Yantai Children’s Palace (photographed above) enjoyed a four-day stay in Tauranga and performed a stunning concert supported by a local school’s kapahaka group. The 12 children (aged between 7-12 years) were hosted with families from a local primary school and had a wonderful time experiencing the Kiwi lifestyle. A civic delegation, led by Mayor Stuart Crosby, attended official celebrations in Yantai in the first week of September. A local Maori performing arts group presented concerts for Yantai citizens which were extremely well received.
Seattle to the rescue
Previous SCNZ president and past mayor of New Plymouth Peter Tennant was recently presented with a QSM for his services to the community.
PLANNED BUT NOT DATED
Kurashiki collection
Selwyn have proposed a visit by Akitakata later this year. Dates will be published when finalised
Christchurch sister city Kurashiki in Japan raised $286,893 mostly in street collections around the city’s railway stations to help earthquake-hit residents in Christchurch. Kurashiki is about 650 kms south of Tokyo and well clear of the local disaster which hit Japan earlier in the year. At the same time a cheque was received from Kobe, a city close to Osoka, which was devastated by an earthquake in January 1995.
2012 January
- A group of Xiamen performers will visit Wellington to perform at the Wellington Chinese New Year Festival.Contact: liqin.mi@gmail.com - Gisborne/Gamagori photo competition this month and next. - WOW, Wellington’s hit show of wearable arts, performs in Hong Kong.
Timaru Earthquakes affects group size Due to natural disasters in Japan and New Zealand the usual group of around 20 students from Takudai-Ichiko High School in Tokyo was reduced to just five students and one teacher as many withdrew. Despite the smaller numbers the programme was as full as usual with visits to Mt Cook, Queenstown, Dunedin, Oamaru and a sheep farm.
March
- Two Xiamen doctors to get further training at Wellington Hospital. Contact: liqin.mi@gmail.com 11- Canterbury Japan Day 2012 “20th Anniversary of the Japanese Society of Canterbury at Riccarton Park, 10 am to 5 pm May
9-11 - SCNZ Conference, Te Papa, Wellington. - A teacher exchange is being planned between Changchun and Masterton. Dates to be confirmed. For further information: Jonathan Hooker synergyconsultants@xtra.co.nz July/ August
- A group of secondary Xiamen students to visit Wellington. Contact: liqin.mi@gmail.com September
- The Japan Festival of Wellington as a part of the 60th anniversary of the New Zealand-Japan relationship celebrations.
(above) Takudai-Ichiko High School teacher Shunji Machidera and students Kana Murano and Rio Yangaihara meet Prime Minister John Key
Southland Southland has recently formed a link with Chang Mai in Thailand which will result in students going to Southland schools. Additionally, a sister cities friendship relationship is being discussed.
Canterbury Japan Day 2012 The 20th Anniversary of the Japanese Society of Canterbury will take place on Sunday 11 March, 2012 (1st anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake) between10am & 5pm in Christchurch. The Japanese Society of Canterbury will celebrate the anniversary by donating any profits to people affected in the earthquakes of Christchurch and east Japan. Organisers plan to bring local expatriate Japanese residents and local residents who love Japanese culture together in a positive spirit of mutual
support. The day will also showcase the Japanese community’s local presence and will be a fore-runner for a regular annual event to be known as Canterbury Japan Days. Organisers are now seeking approval, sponsorships and participation from various societies and businesses with close personal and business ties with the Japanese people. The planned venues for the Day will be Riccarton Market and Riccarton Park – locations that already attract gatherings of some 10,000 people on Sundays.
The organising body for the Day is the Japanese Society of Canterbury ‘Canterbury Japan Day 2012’ Organizing Committee. A major sponsor for the event is the Christchurch Consular Office of Japan. n For further information and/or to register your interest in participating please contact the organisers at: PO Box 8155 Christchurch. email: info@jsc.org.nz www.jsc.org.nz
Darfield
Whakatane
10 year Yubetsu/Darfield relationship
Cancelled visits
A ten year anniversary dinner was held in Darfield on October 5 to celebrate the formation of the friendship agreement between Yubetsu in Hokkaido Japan and Darfield (now Malvern) Community Board of Selwyn Mr Harada receiving a gift District. The dinner was from Jenny Gallagher. attended by the Yubetsu mayor Mr Harada and chairman of the Yubetsu Town Council Mr Watanabe plus others from Yubetsu. The Malvern Community Board was represented by the chair Jenny Gallagher, members of the Board and Selwyn District mayor Kelvin Coe. Both Mayor Harada and Jenny Gallagher spoke of the benefits of the relationship and of their confidence that it will continue to grow. Several artists from Yubetsu donated works to be exhibited and sold at the Malvern Gallery. Proceeds from the sale of works are to be used for the continuation of student exchanges.
Due to the tsunami and earthquake, Kamagaya cancelled the three month stay exchange of two students and the bi-annual student group visit of 20 student from Trident High School due to take place this year. In alternate years students from Kamagaya visit Trident. The Kamagaya International Friendship Association also sends about six fee-paying students to Whakatane for a month and welcomes students from Whakatane for up to three months in return.
Japan festival invitations In September 2012 the Japan Festival of Wellington and the New Zealand Japan Society of Auckland’s Taste of Japan Festival will be held as a part of the 60th anniversary of the New Zealand-Japan relationship celebrations. Planning has begun and we invite entertainers, artists and workshop facilitators interested in performing or demonstrating their craft or promoting their city on a stage in New Zealand. Other cities/regions may want to plan their events to coincide with these two established events. Korea and China also have diplomatic anniversaries next year and celebrations may also be planned. SCNZ can help with coordination and sharing resources.
NZ China Friendship Association n The Auckland branch recently welcomed a delegation from Beijing led by Liao Hui, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference [the Chinese equivalent of the US Senate] and also president of the China-Oceania Friendship Association. The Society will be celebrating its 60th anniversary next year. For a fuller report: nzchinasociety.org. nz/7991/7991/ n The NZCFS 22-day photographer’s tour is planned for April 5-26, 2012 going to a specially selected range of different environments, from terraced hillsides and minority villages to modern cityscapes and the peaceful bustle of daily life. Judy Livingstone, a past president of the Christchurch branch and a keen photographer, will lead the tour. The price is approximately $6990 — all inclusive with meals, 4 star twin share accommodation where available, internal travel and entrance fees. It will suit amateur and professional photographers. n For early expression of interest and further enquiry contact Ann White: 03 614 8944 or tangible@farmside.co.nz
SCNZ survey Thank you to Councils that have responsed so far. The updated contact information alone, has made it a worthwhile endeavor. We have already begun taking on the feedback provided so we can make sure we are providing a valuable and useful service to members. SCNZ is still hoping for a few more replies to the survey. Please get in touch if you haven’t received a copy of the link or would like it sent through again. A full summary of results will be published in the next newsletter. A similar survey for our individual members is currently being put together and will be sent out in a couple of weeks.
SCNZ’s new website under construction The construction of the new website is under way. Board member Cameron Oldfield is working closely with the new web designer to ensure the site will be easier to use and provides members with relevant and up-to-date information. The old site is running on out-of-date technology so a complete rebuild is needed. It is a slow process, but the new website is expected to be up and running before the end of the year.
Christchurch Pupils from two earthquake-hit schools in Christchurch travelled to a North Island sport competition courtesy of Christchurch sister city, Seattle, which sent around $10,000 towards the costs of transporting the two teams. A number of ex-pat Kiwis living in Seattle helped raise the money when they heard the two teams might miss out.
FROM YOUR BOARD
Scholarships offered The Whakatane District Sister Cities Association is offering a scholarship of $1,000 per annum to a student wishing to spend at least two weeks in Kamagaya. A programme of speaking engagements will be developed in conjunction with Kamagaya City Hall where the student will promote Whakatane. They will also be required to stay with several host families.
Heifei approach Whakatane’s Mayor Tony Bonne was recently approached by a Heifei, China resident indicating they would like to commence a sister city relationship. The Mayor of Heifei has been invited to visit Whakatane.
Shibukawa friendship Whakatane has a friendship agreement with Shibukawa as a result of student groups visiting Whakatane High School for the past 15 years. A group of 13 students and three teachers visited this year.
Gore Workshop Friday February 24, 2012 Gore District Council mayor, Tracy Hicks, has recently written to councils throughout the South Island inviting them to send a representative to the Gore sister cities workshop. Next year marks 150 years since Gore was established and the 20th anniversary of the signing of their sister city relationship with Tamworth, NSW, Australia. The theme for the one-day event is ‘Fostering friendship through sister city connection’ where they plan to highlight some of their success stories as well as some “non-traditional links through school and sporting exchanges”. Tracy believes the workshop will suit those who have sister city links as well as those who have not yet established them. Attendees are encouraged to stay for the following day when the town celebrates its ‘moonshine’ history of illegally brewed whisky in a day filled with fun, food, beverages and music. If you are interested please contact Susan Jones before the end of October to register your interest on sjones@goredc.govt.nz or 03-209-0344
Wellington Wellington Mayoral visit to Japan and China From July 18-27 Wellington’s mayor, Celia Wade-Brown (photographed with the mayor of Sakai), led a delegation of 31 people to Sakai, Japan and Beijing, Tianjin, Xiamen, Guangzhou and Hong Kong in China. The main objective of the delegation was to realise the economic development opportunities that arise through Wellington’s city-to-city connections. These international connections allow Wellington businesses to build the political and commercial relationships they need to do business in China and Japan. Another major objective was to foster Wellington’s sister city relationships. A large delegation, led by a new mayor and a city councillor, signals to our sister cities that we place a high value on the relationships. The delegation achieved numerous positive outcomes during the ten-day programme.
CONFERENCE 2012 Sister Cities New Zealand will host the 2012 Annual Conference in Wellington from May 9 to 11 at the Museum of New Zealand: Te Papa Tongarewa. The 2012 Conference will celebrate the anniversaries of New Zealand diplomatic relationships with Japan (60 years), South Korea (50 years) and China (40 years). Please note these dates in your diaries.
Cairo twinning summit President Bill Woods was invited to participate as a member of the Cairo twinning summit, from September 7 to 9 where citizen diplomacy leaders from more than 30 countries convened for the first-ever Global Sister Cities and Twinning Summit hosted by Sister Cities International. The summit focused on the current and future role of sub-national and grassroots dialogue for building sustainable nations and solving intractable global issues. With a particular focus on increasing south-to-south African city partnerships, the three-day summit showcased existing and burgeoning twinning relationships and addressed global issues including access to clean water and sanitation, economic development and good governance. Highlights included a memorandum of understanding ceremony signed by three regional African twinning organisations and a dynamic conversation on the importance of subnational dialogue in addressing conflict and issues within nations.
Sporting challenge Annual sports events are held throughout New Zealand and could be used for friendly intercity rivalry or ‘team bonding’. As a 2012 sister cities sports’ initiative, SCNZ Board member Stephen Duxfield proposes that the annual Rotorua Ekiden Relay becomes a vehicle for inter-sister city challenges or a combined team event and trip. In Japanese ‘eki’ means station and ‘den’ means delivery. Rather than a baton, a ‘tasuki’ sash is delivered or passed from runner to runner. The NZ Japan Society of Auckland Inc has entered teams in this race each year since 2003 and, for the past three years, has challenged the JET Alumni Association of Auckland, to a friendly inter-club race. It has been treated as a chance for members to get to know one another while enjoying an event together and seeing what Rotorua has to offer. The Ekiden is a six-stage foot race held on the second Saturday of October on a 42 kilometre popular and picturesque course circumnavigating Lake Rotorua. The course offers challenges for casual joggers or walkers as well as relatively serious athletes. Costumes and fun are major elements of the day and major prizes are on offer in various categories plus some great spot prizes. n For more details: www.rotoruaekiden.com/ or to discuss this or other sportrelated ideas or initiatives contact Stephen.Duxfield@sistercities.org.nz
Newsletter contributons to: editor@sistercities.org.nz
WOW WOW, Wellington’s wearable arts showcase will be in Hong Kong in January 2012.
Japan festival The Japan Festival of Wellington will be held in September 2012 as a part of the 60th anniversary of the New Zealand-Japan relationship celebrations.
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