June 2023

Newsletter
From the Board
Message from President Mayor Grant Smith
Kia ora,Thank you everyone that participated in our recent AGM
meeting, both those online and those who attended in
Wellington. It was heartening to see a good attendanceby those that care about Sister Cities in New Zealandand the internationalism it represents.
I want to thank Tom Yuan from Wellington City Council
for the meeting venue and acknowledge a couple oflongtime volunteers. Former Vice President Ray Wallace
who after many years on the board has retired but will
still manage our Conference Awards programme. Also
Kevin Watkins who has capably led the Hastings sistercity programme for many years and received a Queen’s
Honour recently. On behalf of GCNZ thank you both foryour service to the sector.
This newsletter’s content represents a real reconnect
with our many partners across the globe.
I recently had my own experience having just returned
from a sister city trip leading a Palmerston North City
business, educational and iwi delegation to visit ourcity partners in Montana USA and Netherlands. The
reconnections were great, and very much like meetinglong lost friends and family. But what it did tell me isthat the world is well and truly open again.

We really value articles and snippetsfrom your own international programmes
for this newsletter plus our online and social media
platforms, no matter how small or large they may be.
So please do send material into Caroline our editor for
future editions.
Don’t forget to save the date for our biannual conferencein Marlborough on November 7th and 8th, where thetheme will be “Reconnecting with the World”.
Consider entering your sister city programme, school
engagement or international programme into the GCNZAwards. These will be announced at the Conference.
Nominations are open now - keep reading for further
details in this newsletter.
Finally, we have a new Administrator. Sally Ho has takenover from Sarah Ma, who we thank for her contributions
over the last 12+ months. Sarah stays on as a YouthSubcommittee member.
I look forward to connecting with as many members
as possible around the country in the near future. Staywarm in these coming winter months.
Ngā mihi nui,
Mayor Grant Smith, JP, GCNZ President

Plan now for Marlborough conference
Members planning on attending the Global Cities New
Zealand conference in Blenheim on 7th - 8th November
should book travel and accommodation now.
Marlborough Mayor Nadine Taylor says she is looking
forward to welcoming delegates to this year’s GCNZ
conference, but they should book soon.
“Marlborough in November is brilliant. The weather isfantastic, and there are lots of things to see and do.”
The conference has been timed to show off Marlborough– straight afterwards, Garden Marlborough starts, andMayor Taylor encourages delegates to stay on in the
district to enjoy what is one of Marlborough’s premium
events.
“However, it does mean there will be a lot of other people
looking to enjoy Marlborough, so GCNZ delegates should

register for the conference when registration opens andmake their travel arrangements now.”
Mayor Taylor says the Marlborough team organising theconference is working on providing a good programme,
based around the theme of “Reconnecting to the World”.
Delegates will be able to share their experiences ofreconnecting with sister city partners after the global
COVID pandemic, and for Marlborough, this will have afocus on youth activities and economic development.
Marlborough sister city sub-committee chairman
Councillor Jonathan Rosene says the benefits of being
able to get together in-person and share experiences
makes conferences really valuable.
“I am looking forward to seeing GCNZ delegates inBlenheim in November.”

GCNZ Newsletter / June 2023

GCNZ Youth Subcommittee: looking toward the future
By Taylor Marston, Youth Director for GCNZ
Sister cities have come to fill a rather ambiguous position
in recent years. In contrast to the heavily peace andsomewhat politically driven movement of the late 1950s
and 1960s known at the time as the “People-to-People
Programme”, the sister city relationships of today areeclectic, broad, and ever changing.
The past 60 years has seen rapid technologicaladvancements culminating in increased local and individualautonomy, international travel and communication, anddiversity of thought. Arguably, the current geopoliticalclimate is the ideal stomping ground for local-to-global
relationships that celebrate and promote cultural diversity,interconnectivity, and local identity. The unfortunate
reality, however, is that sister cities have by and large
struggled to attain the steady flow of youth engagement
required to remain relevant.
This is of course not due to a lack of effort. I have been
fortunate to speak with numerous passionate sister city
practitioners who share similar concerns about the sistercity model, but despite their best efforts, have been unable
to garner youth engagement.
Outside of just sister cities, there is a prevalent assumptionthat the youth of today are simply not interested in theirlocal community. Such assumptions are usually coupledwith a bleak proposition that community-based groups
and programmes are doomed to obscurity. However,having taught some 300 or so ‘youth’ at university overthe past three years and interacted with countless others
operating in this space, I have drawn my own conclusionthat when it comes to youth community involvement, theissue does not pertain to a lack of interest. Rather the
problem is one of choice.
Today’s youth are overwhelmed with choice, especially incomparison to the youth of 50 years ago. While engaging
in a sister city relationship may be an appealing choice on

GCNZ Youth Subcommittee members at the recent Forum

paper, to a young person it is only one of a multitude of
choices. Furthermore, community is no longer restricted
to place. At the touch of their fingertips youth have accessto hundreds of thousands of online communities which are
specifically catered and designed to hold their attention.
In the past prestige, companionship, and altruism alone
may have been enough to garner youth interest. Today,
however, the model has flipped on itself. Community driven
groups and programmes, such as sister cities, now must
actively incentivise youth to participate, primarily throughoffering something unique. The challenge for sister cities
going forward will be their ability to identify and capitaliseon their niche; to create and offer unique experiences
and opportunities; and to help foster unparalleled global
connections. It is through such actions that I believe sistercities can be competitive.
Reality, however, is obviously not so straightforward.
This is where I hope the recently relaunched GCNZ
Youth Subcommittee can come into play. The YouthSubcommittee comprises a growing number of young
people across Aotearoa New Zealand from a variety ofbackgrounds, all with a motivation to help sister cities
succeed in the youth space. Acting as pseudo bridge, theYouth Subcommittee aims to help sister city practitioners
and committees alike to realise their niche and attract
youth interest. While the youth subcommittee does notproclaim to know all the answers, or to possess the secret
key to unlocking youth engagement, our hope is that ourexperiences as ‘youth’ can help alleviate what is otherwisea difficult hurdle.
Although the Youth Subcommittee is relatively new tothis, we are nonetheless eager to hit the ground running.
If you are someone operating in the sister city space
and would be interested in collaborating with the YouthSubcommittee, please do not hesitate to contact as atyouth@globalcities.org.nz

GCNZ Newsletter / June 2023

Ningxia delegation visits sister region Marlborough
By Cathie Bell, Marlborough Sister City Subcommittee
Six Chinese officials visited Marlborough last week,meeting with industry, business, education and Council
representatives.
The delegates were from Marlborough’s sister regionof Ningxia and were here to reconnect following the
COVID pandemic. They met with Mayor Nadine Taylor,councillors and staff at the New Zealand Wine Centre.

Ningxia is the third largest wine region in China and oneof the largest in the world.
For further information see www.marlborough.govt.nz/
your-council/marlborough-sister-cities

Discussions were held about opportunities for talentexchange, international education, wine consultancy
and technology and agritech, Council’s Economic
Development Manager Neil Henry said.
“The delegation was impressed with Marlborough andpositive about how our regions could work together infuture to deliver benefits,” he said.
The delegation was led by Ms Shi Dai, member of
the Standing Committee andDirector-General of
Organization Department of the CPC Ningxia Committee.
The Marlborough-Ningxia sister region relationshipwas signed in 2017 and is based on a mutual economic
partnership through wine consultancy, technology andeducation.

Mayor Taylor and Ms Shi Dai with Chinese delegates, John
Inglis and Catherine Harris from NMIT, councillors Jamie andSally Arbuckle, and Dean Heiford

GCNZ member receives a Queen’s Service Medal
GCNZ member Kevin Watkins, of Hastings, recently
received a QSM for services to the community and New
Zealand-China relations.
Hastings District Councillor Kevin Watkins has been
instrumental in the annual Hastings Blossom Parade andChristmas Parade since 1957, as well as building the city’s
Father Christmas float.
He created the Chinese Lantern Festival, which attracts
up to 15,000 people annually and has been a key driverof the Sister-City friendship between Hastings andGuilin, China, and created the Amazing China Face Races,
connecting Hastings secondary school students with
their Chinese counterparts.
Mr Watkins created the ‘Year of Tourism’, which launchedat the New Zealand Embassy in Beijing in 2019.
On behalf of Global Cities NZ, congratulations Kevin andHastings.

Kevin with the Governor General, The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro,
GNZM, QSO

Save the Date

CONFERENCE 2023
Blenheim, MarlboroughRegistrations open soon

7-8
Nov

GCNZ Newsletter / June 2023

Selwyn hosts visitor from sister city Toraja, Indonesia
By Allison J Rosanowski, Selwyn Sister City Committee Chairperson
Reviving in-person relationships after the years of
COVID is a rewarding experience. Selwyn’s in-person
relationship with Toraja, a Christian Community in thehighlands of Sulawesi has begun with a three week visitof senior English teacher, Lordna Lambe from Barana
Christian Secondary School. Barana is a boarding schoolof 500 students who come from throughout Indonesia.
Lordna was a key person when three retired Selwyn
teachers visited Toraja in 2019. These teachers worked
with 25 junior English teachers for three weeks.
Selwyn was asked to repeat the Programme in Toraja andSelwyn requested Toraja teachers to visit Selwyn. COVID
interrupted these plans.
Lordna comments on her three weeks professional
development in Selwyn:“I came as an English teacher who thinks I am sufficientenough to teach English in my school. Yet, this experiencehas opened my understanding that as a teacher I have tolearn, grow, and develop to be able to help my students to
prepare for the global world. I am so grateful to experience
many different classrooms from various schools in
Selwyn District. To my surprise, every school has its own
characteristics in teaching, in curriculum designing, instudent development programmes which enriches myexperience. Not only that I had the chance to experience
the school environment, but also to experience the daily
life, the culture, the food and the beautiful scenery of
New Zealand. The friendliness and welcoming attitudeof the people made me feel at home during my visit in
Selwyn District. I wish that the sister city relationshipbetween Selwyn District and North Toraja Region keeps
on growing, nourished and be fruitful for the developmentof both cities.”

Lordna at Selwyn District
Council Headquarters with
Feature panel

Feeding sheep Middle Rock ,Coleridge

Barana’s headmaster asked the Selwyn Sister City
Committee to arrange visits to tertiary institutions
with a view to opening opportunities for their students.
Canterbury University, CCEL Language School, Lincoln
University, ARA Polytechnic, and SIT Polytechnic
welcomed Lordna and displayed the variety of courses
available.
Lordna was able to experience jetboating on the Rakaia
River, farm visits, a kiwi experience and the Antarctic
Centre - her first time to touch snow and see penguins.
She met with extended family from Rolleston and Blenheim
who live in New Zealand. Living with homestay families
was invaluable introduction to life in New Zealand.

Rolleston College was the main host school for Lordna
where she was able to observe interactive teaching
methods. She also spent a day each at Darfield High School,
Ellesmere College and Lincoln High School. At Lincoln she
was delighted to see a published author teaching creative
writing to Year 13 students. A half day at Middelton Grange
was an opportunity to observe a Christian School.

In turn, we learnt that in her Christian Community
Ascension day is a public holiday. Lordna attended church
services at Rolleston’s Hope Church and Darfield’s Trinity
Anglican service. Many Selwyn residents who have visited
Toraja were able to share their experiences with Lordna
during a drinks and nibbles reception and a farewell dinner.
Graham Robertson, whose Canterbury Rural Toraja Trust,
initiated relationships between Canterbury and Toraja wasa welcome guest at these functions.

Lordna at Trinity Church Darfield with the Rev Tom Innes, centre
and Layreader Robin Cattell

Friends meeting again: teachers who worked with Junior English
teachers in Toraja in 2019. From left - Joan, Nick, Lordna and Pam

GCNZ Newsletter / June 2023

Wellington’s sister city honours Royal NZ airmen
By Melanie Crawford, Senior International Relations Advisor, Wellington City Council
2023 marks the 70th anniversary of sister city relations
between Wellington and Harrogate, a town in North
Yorkshire, England.
Harrogate is Wellington’s only sister city in the United
Kingdom. The relationship was established in 1953 when
Wellington City Council donated plants for Harrogate
Borough Council’s Valley Gardens. This prompted theestablishment of a New Zealand Garden, which officiallyopened in 1954.
In 1954, Harrogate Borough Council presented Wellington
with a gold mace created by a local jeweller. The maceis still used at Council meetings and on ceremonial
occasions.
In 2010, kaumātua Sam Jackson travelled to Harrogate tobless the newly restored New Zealand Garden. He travelledwith Dame June Temuranga Jackson, and Councillor Ray
Ahipene-Mercer. A pou whenua (ceremonial carved post)
was additionally gifted by Wellington City and iwi partner
Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust.

The New Zealand Garden honours the 23 New Zealandairmen (including four from Wellington) who were
stationed in North Yorkshire during WWII and died in thewar. The men are now buried in the Commonwealth War
Cemetery in Harrogate.
Following an initiative by Kate Spencer of Harrogate
International Partnerships in 2022, the 23 New Zealandairmen are now honoured at a wreath-laying ceremony
each Anzac Day.
This year the airmen were commemorated by
the refurbishment of the New Zealand Garden. A
commemorative wooden bench, made by a local Yorkshire
craftsman, was placed in the newly refurbished garden
during a ceremony on Saturday 22nd April.
"The placement of the bench seat marks 70 years of
our sister city relationship and also honours the RNZAF
airmen buried nearby. Harrogate and the Friends of theValley Gardens are delighted and honoured to receive thegift,” said Kate.

From left: Gravestone of Alfred Lockyer, one of the four Wellington airmen buried in Harrogate; Flight Lieutenant Dan Channon, RoyalNew Zealand Air Force and Lieutenant Colonel Colin Morrison, Royal Australian Defence Force at the Anzac Day service in Harrogate;
New bench in the Harrogate New Zealand Garden.

2023 GCNZ Awards nominations open 1 July
By Ray Wallace ONZM, Awards Co-ordinator
I am delighted to announce that nominations for thehighly anticipated 2023 Global Cities New ZealandAwards will open on 1 July. These awards celebrate thesignificance of people-to-people relationships in shaping
our global community.
Participating in the Global Cities New Zealand Awards
is an exceptional opportunity for cities and towns to
showcase their dedication to fostering strong and inclusive
communities. It provides a platform to recognise theinitiatives that have strengthened sister city Relationships
through social cohesion, encouraged cultural exchange,and promoted diversity and inclusion.
These awards celebrate the cities and towns that havesuccessfully bridge divides, promote understanding, andcultivate a sense of belonging.
Moreover, the Global Cities New Zealand Awards promote
the exchange of ideas and experiences, enabling cities andtowns to learn from one another's successes and challenges.
By participating, cities and towns can forge partnerships
and build networks that enhance collaboration on a global
scale, fostering mutual understanding and cooperation

among diverse communities.
Ultimately, the 2023 Global Cities New
Zealand Awards emphasize that cities
and towns are more than just buildings
and infrastructure – they are living entities
built on the foundations of human connections.
By placing people-to-people relationships at the forefront,
we recognize the pivotal role individuals play in shaping thefuture of their cities and towns and collectively building amore inclusive, empathetic, and prosperous world.
Join us in celebrating the outstanding achievements ofpeople-to-people relationships. Talk to your group andlook at what great projects or milestones you have achieved
over the past 18 months and put in a nomination for the2023 GCNZ Awards. You could be our 2023 winner.
Categories:
1. Best Project (Community and School Members)
2. Best Project (Local Government Members)
3. Best Commercially Focused Project (All Members)
Information packs will be emailed to members after 1 July.

GCNZ Newsletter / June 2023

Wellington Sakai Association creates mascot tocelebrate relationship with Japan
By Roxie Orr, President, Wellington Sakai Association and WSA committee
In 2022 we created our Wellington
Sakai Association mascot or yuruchara – HONEYWA – to celebrate ourrelationship with the Sakai Wellington
Association.
The yuru-chara project began in July
2020, with earlier president Esther
Harrison, beginning with a designcompetition held from December 2020
to February 2021 during the Pandemic
via our in social media platform. With support from the
Wellington City Council and after a local competition weselected our favourite design by Roseanna Finkle-Vern.
The winner and runners-up were announced at the
Crofton Downs School "Matsuri" event in March 2021.
With much commitment and communication with
Kigurumix company in Japan, Rieko Woodford-Robinson,
committee member, all committee members and our2021/2022 president, Xan Wetherall, we launched
HONEYWA at the Japan Festival in Wellington in March
2022.
Yuru-chara (Japanese: ゆるキャラ) is a Japanese term for acategory of mascot characters; usually created to promotea place or region, event, organisation or business. They arecharacterized by their kawaii (cute) and unsophisticateddesigns, often incorporating motifs that represent local
culture, history or produce. They may be created by local
government or other organizations to stimulate tourism
and economic development, or created by a company
to build on their corporate identity. They may appear as
costumed characters at promotional events and festivals.
Yuru-chara has become a popular and lucrative business,with character-driven sales reaching billions of dollars ineconomic benefits.
KIGURUMIX costume company (located in Sumida-ku,
Tokyo) have a reputation for quality designs (the Directorof KIGURUMIX has a masters in Advanced Art Expression
from Tokyo University of the Arts). They make inflatable
sculpture costumes which are easily transportable. We
ordered the Yuru-chara costume from them in June 2021

Raewyn MacGregor (Vice President)with HONEYWA. Roseanna FinkleVern is inside HONEYWA at thelaunch.

and it was completed in April 2022.
To give you a bit of understandingof our HONEYWA, she represents a
combination of Wellington's Beehive andthe Haniwa clay sculptures, which were
famous during the Kofun period. Her
blue legs are the ocean that Wellington
and Sakai, both port cities, are blessed
with, and her green arms are strong,
like the forests around Wellington andin Sakai's Kofun areas. "Honey" is a nod to Aotearoa New
Zealand’s famous honey production, and "Wa" means
harmony in Japanese. She is named with the hope that
Wellington and Sakai continue to be harmonious sistercities and we can share in our appreciation of things
Wellingtonion and from Sakai in our ongoing activities
and exchanges.
At our next event we look forward to Mikki Schweitzer
being in HONEYWA and entertaining our members andthe community, bringng people of all ages together. We
look forward to HONEYWA being part of our activities
for the Wellington Sakai Association, and particularly
our 30th anniversary of the Wellington Sakai sister city
relationship in 2024.

Xan Wetherall (previous president) at the Japan Festival where
we launched HONEYWA.

HONEYWA accompanied by the Zespri Kiwi mascots at the Japan Festival 2022. In July
2022 we had the Japanese Business Breakfast at Parliament. Here is Mr Chris Seed, CEO of
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ambassador Ito and Roxie Orr (current president) at
the event. Rieko Woodford-Robinson (committee member) was inside HONEYWA.

GCNZ Newsletter / June 2023

Left: Tauranga Head Commissioner, Anne Tolley and Japan Deputy Head of Mission, Mr Tatsushi Nishioka, cutting the sister city
anniversary cake. Right: Hitachi Girl Scouts perform traditional Japanese song and dance to attendees - Celebrating their 22-year
relationship with the Tauranga Girl Guides

From past collaborations to future prosperity:
Tauranga and Hitachi celebrate 35 years as sister cities
By Dean Prendergast, International Relations Specialist, Priority One
Tauranga and Hitachi City recently commemorated
their 35th anniversary as sister cities, celebrating
a longstanding relationship of friendship, cultural
exchange, and economic cooperation. The event
acknowledged the many community leaders, business
representatives, and educators who had contributed to
the relationship over many years.
Hosted by Tauranga City Council Head Commissioner,
Anne Tolley, notable guests included Japan’s Deputy Headof Mission, Mr Tatsushi Nishioka, former Tauranga City
Council CEO, Mr Alan Bickers and former Mayoress Mrs
Ena Pope, both who attended the original signing ceremonyin 1988, and representative from Global Cities New Zealand,
Hiromi Morris. The event was timed to coincide with avisit to Tauranga by the Hitachi City Girl Scouts, who
performed a traditional Japanese dance alongside Tauranga
Intermediate School’s kapa haka group.
Commissioner Tolley spoke about the importance ofsister city relationships in fostering mutual respect andunderstanding between the people of both cities, andhighlighted past collaborations in the arts, education andbusiness. A special video message featured Hitachi City
Mayor, Mr Haruki Ogawa, emphasising the significance ofthe relationship to him, including his positive experience
visiting Tauranga in the past.

The formalities concluded with Japan’s Deputy Head ofMission, Mr. Nishioka, speaking on the importance ofinternational relationships in fostering global diplomacy
and understanding, before a ceremonial cutting of
the anniversary cake by Commissioner Tolley and Mr.
Nishioka.
About the Tauranga/Hitachi sister city relationship
The sister city relationship between Tauranga and
Hitachi, established in 1988, has fostered cooperationin various areas. Educational exchanges involve English
language teachers from Tauranga working in Hitachi
and regular student exchanges. Cultural initiatives, suchas arts collaborations and local quilt maker exhibitions,have strengthened international arts communities.
Last year’s celebration of 70 years of diplomatic relations
between New Zealand and Japan further cements theimportance of international connections, with tradepromotion activities and information exchange on
disaster planning further deepening the relationshipbetween the cities.
An upcoming delegation from Tauranga to Hitachi, led
by Commissioner Tolley, aims to further strengthen thesister city bond and pave the way for future collaboration.

Over one-hundred attendees came together to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Hitachi and Tauranga sister city relationship

GCNZ Newsletter / June 2023

Sister cities book club exchange
By Ben Van Rooy, Vice President, Wellington Xiamen Association
About two years ago, during the COVID-19 lockdown I
hatched a plan to somehow keep in contact with Xiamen
and its sister cities.

in Wellington by Wellington City Council International
Relations Specialist Jennifer Zhou and Confucius Institutestaff.

I searched hard and found email addresses and contacts
for some of them and in particular the English speaking
countries. With the blessing and participation of Xiamen
Foreign Affairs Office this resulted in an almost two hour
Zoom meeting because we had not seen one another forso long and had lots to talk about.

The opening was a great success where the above sistercities all participated and all had the books sent by
XMFAO at hand. Dr Bill Brown, author of several books hewrote over his many years as honorary citizen of Xiamen
spoke animatedly presented one of his books called ‘Off
the Wall’.

The sister cities involved were Baltimore and Sarasota(USA), Richmond (Canada), Sunshine Coast (Australia),
Wellington and Xiamen of course.

There was no doubt we all endorsed the happy outcomeof the innovation. I too was asked to say a few words andit was fortuitous to see myself on the news with Xiamen
TV that night.

Late last year Xiamen Foreign Affairs Office wrote to seek
participation in a Book Club not knowing that we have ourannual holidays and we substantially shut down. Dates
were renegotiated but still ended up with the inaugurallaunch to be on 25 April, yes ANZAC Day.
I happened to be in Xiamen and happy to be present at the
Xiamen Library for the official opening attended by zoom

Of course, Wellington is no stranger to books exchange.
I was lucky enough to be present with the handover ofsome 60 books when Former Mayor Prendergast visited
Xiamen to open an official New Zealand Corner at the
Xiamen Museum Library. Those books are still there
today and many students come to seek knowledge about
Wellington and New Zealand.

2023 – 2024 GCNZ Board and Advisors
President: Mayor Grant Smith (Palmerston North)

National Administrator: Sally Ho (Palmerston North)

Director: John Christie (Dunedin)

Advisor: Luke Qin JP (Wellington/Lower Hutt)

Director: Beth Knowles (Christchurch)

Youth Advisor: Elisha Hsiao (Porirua)

Director: Taylor Marston (Auckland)

Newsletter Editor: Caroline Pope (Tākaka)

Emeritus President: Hiromi Morris (Wellington)

PO Box 965, Palmerston North 4440, New Zealand
Sally Ho - National Administrator 022 528 2364
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