Forum 2022
10am, Thursday 10 November 2022
at Grand Hall, Parliament Building

Theme: Celebrating New
Zealand’s Diplomatic Relations Global Connections and Diversity
through Citizen Diplomacy

This forum is hosted by
Tangi Utikere MP
Sponsored by the following organisations

Embassy of thePeople’s Republic ofChina in New Zealand

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WELCOM E

Welcome Message
Tangi Utikere, MP for Palmerston North
It’s a pleasure to host the Global
Cities New Zealand Forum 2022 at
Parliament – a time for discussion
and sharing of experiences
and opportunities to develop and maintaininternational connections around the world.
This year we celebrate 80 years of New Zealand’s
diplomatic relations with the United States ofAmerica, 70 years with Japan, 60 years with
South Korea and 50 years with China. This is agreat achievement, and one GCNZ should be
extremely proud of.
With the first links between New Zealandcoming about after the Second World War,‘people-to-people’ engagement is at theheart of the Sister Cities movement. Overthe years, towns and cities around New
Zealand have built and fostered productive
relationships with around 160 locations
across 24 countries. These connections not
only enhance the cultural diversity of New
Zealand towns and cities, but also encourage
friendship between countries and bringabout economic opportunities for regions
throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
I congratulate you on the work you continue
to do to ensure these relationships are wellmaintained, and that New Zealanders will
benefit from this investment for years tocome.
I wish you all the best for a productive andinformative forum.

President’s Message
Mayor Grant Smith JP
Kia ora, welcome, konnichiwa,
an nyeong ha seyo and ni hao.
As the new president of Global
Cities New Zealand (GCNZ), it gives
me great pleasure to welcome you all to ourInternational Forum here at Parliament
Buildings in the Grand Hall.
The theme is ‘Celebrating New Zealand’s
Diplomatic Relations - Global Connections
and Diversity through Citizen Diplomacy’, andI could not think of a more fitting venue, as
2022 is a special year of bilateral celebrations
for New Zealand. I want to acknowledge
our international partners, their respective
Embassies and the anniversaries we share; with
the USA – 80 years, Japan – 70 years, South
Korea – 60 years and China – 50 years. My
personal thanks to the Ambassadors for theirpresentations and support.
I would also like to acknowledge the Associate
Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon Aupito
William Sio; and Palmerston North MP Tangi
Utikere, who is hosting us here in the Grand Hall.
The forum also features panel discussions

and case studies on city and citizen led
reconnections with our four featured global
partners, along with acknowledgment ofsome significant sister city anniversaries
spanning 50 and 40 years, and the relaunchof GCNZ’s Youth Subcommittee as we look to
the future.
Although the last few years have beendifficult with the Covid pandemic affecting
our everyday lives and certainly international
travel, we have learnt many new ways to stay
in touch with our sister cities and international
partners. With borders reopening, we havealready seen pent-up activity and delegations
reconnecting physically, and with newfoundtechnology there will be more ways to stayconnected.
Finally I wish to thank our partners andfunders in making this forum possible; MFAT,
Office of MP Tangi Utikere, Parliamentary
Services, the Embassies of USA, Japan, South
Korea and China, as well as the tireless work of
Forum Coordinator Hiromi Morris.
Ngā mihi nui.

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PR O G R A M M E

Thursday 10 November
Time

SessionSpeaker

MC: Darren Ludlaw
9:00amRegistrations open

10:00am

Mihi

Kura Moeahu

10:15amWelcomeTangi Utikere, Member of Parliament

10:25am

Greetings

Grant Smith, GCNZ President

10:35am

Opening remarks

Hon Aupito William Sio, Associate Ministerof Foreign Affairs & Trade

10:50amPresentations by Ambassadors• HE Mr ITO Koichi, Ambassador of Japan• HE Mr Tom Udall, Ambassador of the United States of America• HE Dr WANG Xiaolong, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China• Mr Ockchae YOON, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea

12:30pm Lunch
1:20pmRelaunch of GCNZ YouthSubcommittee

Taylor Marston, GCNZ Director & YouthSubcommittee Members

1:50pmPanel Discussion: Global Connections and Diversity through Citizen
Diplomacy - How to reconnect with our global partners?
Facilitator: Darren Ludlaw• Suzi Duffin, Student Coordinator of Hutt Sister City Foundation (USA)• Andrew McGeorge, Christchurch-Kurashiki Sister City Committee (Japan)• Michael Stevens, Chair of Korean Cinerama Trust (Korea)• Teresa Chan, Chair of Dunedin Shanghai Association (China)

3:00pmGroup discussion with light refreshments and report back

3:50pm2022 Significant Anniversaries• Christchurch-Adelaide 50 years: Jack Chaney, Civic and International
Relations Advisor, Christchurch City Council• Christchurch-Christchurch UK 50 years: Bevan Killick, Chair of ChristchurchChristchurch-UK Sister City Committee• Other anniversaries – photo slides presentation

4:30pm2023 Annual Conference shortpresentation

Mayor Nadine Taylor,
Marlborough District Council

4:40pmClosing remarks

Ray Wallace, GCNZ Vice President

Followed by drinks and nibbles
for networking
6:00pm4

FinishI N TR OD UCI N G...

Distinguished Speakers
Hon Aupito
William Sio
Associate Minister of
Foreign Affairs & Trade
Aupito William Sio is the Minister for PacificPeoples and Minister for Courts. He is also the
Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Associate
Minister of Education (Pacific Peoples), Associate
Minister of Justice and Associate Minister of
Health (Pacific Peoples).
Minister Sio has been the elected Member ofParliament (MP) for the Māngere Electorate
since 2008, prior to entering Parliament heserved as the deputy mayor of Manukau Cityand the elected city councillor for the Otara
Ward.
Minister Sio is a passionate advocate for cultural
diversity and the needs of Pacific peoples. In
addition, he has been very vocal about climatechange and how it is affecting the smaller
islands and atolls in the Pacific region.

Tangi Utikere
Member of Parliament
Tangi Utikere is the Labour MP
for Palmerston North. Prior tohis election in 2020, Tangi served
10 years on the Palmerston North City Council,
and was the city’s first elected member ofPasifika heritage. Tangi was appointed Deputy
Mayor in 2016, a role he relinquished upon his
election to Parliament.
Whilst a member of the PNCC, Tangi was
heavily involved with GCNZ, and had a pivotal
role in preserving and fostering relationships
with of Palmerston North’s international city
partnerships – Guiyang, China; Missoula, USA;
Kunshan, People’s Republic of China; andMihara, Japan.
With a background in education, his Global
Cities involvement included leading an
education delegation to Guizhou province.
Tangi holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a
Triple Major in History, Political Science andSocial Policy, along with a Graduate Diploma in
Teaching (Secondary) from Massey University.

Key Conference Figures
Kura Moeahu

Darren Ludlaw

Whaitua teWhanganui-a-Tara

MC

Kura Moeahu is the chairman of
Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa, and has
also been greatly involved in iwi governance asboth a chair and board member on a numberof boards.
Kura is well known and highly sought for his
knowledge of Te Ao Māori and tikanga Māori
having whakapapa ties to Te Āti Awa Taranaki
Whanui and Ngati Toa.

Darren Ludlow is an
Invercargill-based
broadcaster, MC, local bodypolitician and former amateur stunt person(not very good – there have been injuries).
He has a great understanding of the valueof international sister city relationships,
plus the challenges of maintaining thoserelationships over the past two years.

Kura is dedicated to supporting rangatahi intheir development.

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Distinguished Speakers
HE Mr ITO Koichi
Ambassador of Japanto New Zealand, theCook Islands & Niue
Ambassador Ito came to New Zealand in
December 2020, after serving as the Consul
General in Honolulu.
Since then, he has visited Japanese sistercities, including Palmerston North, Dunedin,
New Plymouth, Invercargill, Gisborne, andWhakatāne, witnessing strong connections withJapan, along with New Zealand’s rich cultural
diversity, and the deep friendship between
the two countries. He is grateful for the many
people who have dedicated themselvesto these close sister city connections; thecornerstone of our diplomatic relations which
this year celebrate their 70th anniversary.
During his youth, he lived in a town near
Osaka’s Minoh City which has been Lower Hutt’s
sister city for 27 years.

HE Dr WANG Xiaolong
Ambassador of thePeople’s Republic ofChina to New Zealand,
the Cook Islands & Niue
Ambassador Wang was born in Tianjin, China
and holds a PhD in Economics. He also studied at
University of Kent, United Kingdom (1988-1989).
He started working for the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of the People’s Republic of China(MFA) in 1987 followed by various positionsat Department of International Organizations
and Conferences, MFA including as APEC SOM
leader for China (2004-2007), and as Minister
Counsellor & DCM at Embassy in Singapore(2008-2010) and Ambassador in Mongolia(2010-2015).
He was Special Envoys for G20 and BRICS affairs,
MFA (2016-2018) and Director-General of
Department of International Economic Affairs,
MFA (2018-2021).
Ambassador Wang arrived in New Zealand at
the end of 2021.

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HE Mr Tom Udall
Ambassador of theUnited States of America
to New Zealand, Samoa,
Niue & the Cook Islands
Ambassador Udall has had a long anddistinguished career in public service
championing the interests of Native
American groups as well as conservation andenvironmental protection.
He served New Mexico in elected office formore than two decades as the state’s Attorney
General and in the House of Representatives.
Prior to elected office, he served as a federal
prosecutor and Chief Counsel to the New
Mexico Department of Health and Environment.
In 2018, Ambassador Udall received theSierra Club’s top award for public officials, theEdgar Wayburn Award, for his leadership on
environmental issues.
Ambassador Udall arrived in New Zealand in
November 2021 and holds a Bachelor of Artsand Law as well as a Juris Doctor. He and his
wife, Jill Cooper, have one daughter.

Mr Ockchae YOON
Chargé d’affaires of
the Embassy of the
Republic of Korea to
New Zealand
Mr. Ockchae Yoon joined the ROK Ministryof Foreign Affairs in 1997, and had served as
Director for Research Administration Division
at Korea National Diplomatic Academy (KNDA),
Deputy-Director for Administration, Planningand Management Bureau.
He had been assigned to Korean Consulate
General in New York, USA and ROK Embassies
in Libya, Brunei and Tanzania.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theology fromSeoul Theological University, Korea.
He arrived in New Zealand in August 2022 andis married with three daughters.

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Global Cities New Zealand Youth Subcommittee
Taylor Marston

Elisha Hsiao

GCNZ Director,
Auckland

Youth Advisor,
Porirua

Taylor has an academic
background in sister cities,
having completed his master’s thesis on sistercity relationships shared between Japan andAotearoa New Zealand. He currently resides inTāmaki Makaurau and is pursuing a PhD in thefield of community development, once again
focusing on sister city relationships.
Taylor has a strong passion for the “Think
Global, Act Local” doctrine and is eager
to promote the actions of sister cities andtheir importance in contemporary society,especially to today’s youth. Taylor also teaches
classes in the Japanese, and Social Sciences
and Public Policy departments at Auckland
University of Technology.

Surbjit Singh
Wellington
Surbjit (Subby) Singh iscurrently in her final year
at Victoria University of
Wellington, studying towards
a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Political
Science and Criminology.
One of her biggest aspirations in life is tomake a difference and implement change
regarding issues in New Zealand as well
as around the world. She is incredibly
passionate about furthering her study intopics such as intelligence and the criminal
justice system.
Subby has been fortunate enough to havebeen placed in two internships where she
has learnt many skills that she truly values.
Although still very new to the organisation,
Subby is very honoured to be a part of the
GCNZ youth subcommittee.

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Elisha is a Product Manager at
FarmIQ, an agriculture technology
software company. She also practices
Immigration and Refugee Law as she enjoys
making a difference in individuals’ lives. She
is a member of the Asia NZ Foundation’s
Leadership Network and previously arecipient of the French Embassy’s Hexagone
Scholarship.
Originally from Taiwan, Elisha spent half herlife in New Zealand and she has lived in France
for six months during her university exchange.
Elisha is a firm believer that fosteringfriendships around the world from a grassroots
level is a great way to learn about othercultures to promote a tight-knit relationshipbetween countries. Sister Cities relationships
are ways to achieve this. Elisha organised andled the GCNZ’s inaugural Youth Tour to 5 cities
in China in 2018.

Miko Morris
Wellington
Miko is an ethnic Chineseand raised by New Zealandfather and Japanese mother,
who has been actively involved
in sister city activities from which Miko has
developed an appreciation of the benefits inhaving an understanding of diverse cultures.
She achieved the Duke of Edinburgh Goldaward and also awards from the Victoria
Plus Program and Victoria International
Leadership Programme. She graduated lastyear with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoringin International Relations and Chinese.
She welcomes the opportunity to contributeas a member of the Youth Subcommittee inachieving the objectives of GCNZ.

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Global Cities New Zealand Youth Subcommittee
Sarah Ma

Antonia Averes

Palmerston North

Christchurch

Sarah is from Vietnam andcame to New Zealand in2017 to study at IPU New
Zealand. In 2020, she graduatedwith a Bachelor of Contemporary International
Studies, majoring in International Relations.
In 2018 she joined the Palmy Global
Ambassador Programme run by thePalmerston North City Council and became
a Youth Ambassador. Her experiences asboth a Youth Ambassador and a Vice Chairof the Manawatu Young Chamber havegiven her many opportunities to learn about
International Relations, youth engagement aswell as the world around her.

Antonia Averes is athird year student at the
University of Canterbury,
doing a double degree in
Psychology and Vocal Performance.
She was a part of the GCNZ Youth Tour toChina in 2018, and aspires to work in themental health system overseas. She also runs
the social media accounts for two clubs at
the University of Canterbury, and loves todesign and put together creations in a rangeof styles.

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9PA NEL D I SCUSS I O NGlobal Connections and Diversity through Citizen Diplomacy –How to reconnect with our global partners?
Facilitator: Darren Ludlaw
Suzi Duffin

Andrew McGeorge

Student Coordinator,
Hutt S/C Foundation

Christchurch-Kurashiki
S/C Committee

In 2011, our son was selected
for the student exchange to Tempe,
Arizona the following year. We had no idea how
all our lives were about to change!

Andrew studied Japanese at highschool and at university alongsideaccountancy. He first visited Kurashiki at age 17
before going on the JET programme there in
1989, where he met his future wife, Kate, who
was also on the JET programme from Kurashiki’s
American sister city, Kansas City. Both of theirchildren were born in Kurashiki and consider
both sister cities to be second homes.

Seeing the impact of the program, and seeing
potential areas we could add value, we joined
the Hutt Sister Foundation Committee, andsince 2015 Paul, my husband, has been
President, and I’ve been the Student Coordinator. Through our Sister Cities program, we
have worked closely with 5 student exchangegroups – and become firm friends with themand their families.
We take great pride in the positive changes
we see in our students during and after thisexperience.

Michael Stevens
Chair of Korean
Cinerama Trust
Michael is a Wellington based
Commercial and Film Lawyer and has
been closely involved supporting the developmentof New Zealand’s film production and digitalentertainment sector and its links with Asia. He
has a personal and professional interest in the
future of Asia Pacific Film and Media, including thedevelopment and funding for film, documentary,
animation, and other digital media projects
including international art exchanges.
Michael’s interests include acting as Legal Counsel
for a number of New Zealand film and animation
Companies. He is currently the Chair of the
Korean Cinerama Trust, a Trustee of the Urban Art
Foundation and a Member of the Wellington/Seoul
Advisory Group. He is also a former Chairman of
the Korea New Zealand Business Council, Board
Member of the NZ Film and Literature Boardof Review, and International Delegate for the
Shanghai International Film Festival.

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With the support of Kurashiki City, Andrew
completed a MA TEFL/TESL from the Universityof Birmingham before returning to New Zealandin 1999. He went on the JET programme for asecond time in 2006/2007 to Okinawa.
Back in New Zealand, Andrew has been a small
business entrepreneur constantly drawing
on experiences in Japan and involved withfarming, manufacturing, real estate and marine
brokerage. Andrew is also a lifelong sailor.

Teresa Chan
Chair of Dunedin
Shanghai Association
Teresa Chan is the Chair of theDunedin Shanghai Association.
The Association supports the sister cities
relationship between Dunedin and Shanghai
and wider China. Teresa has been on a numberof delegations to Shanghai representing
Dunedin City.
She is also the President of the NZ Chinese
Association - Otago & Southland Branchwhose members are Chinese in her region,and is part of the executive of the national
Association.
She is a practising lawyer in the areas of
Immigration, Property & Business Law. She isalso a member of the Institute of Directors.

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2022 Significant Anniversary Presenters
Jack Chaney
Christchurch City
CouncilJack Chaney is an Advisor in theChristchurch City Council’s Civic &International Relations Team. He is responsible
for a range of portfolios including Sister
Cities, broader China relationships, andChristchurch’s International Relations Policy
Framework. He is passionate about the valuethat international connectivity can deliver forthe city’s wellbeing and prosperity.
In July 2022, Jack was part of the Christchurch
50th anniversary delegation visit to Sister City
Adelaide. He is looking forward to sharing
insights with Forum attendees about thisvisit, one which ultimately set the tone for
how Christchurch will seek to travel as a cityin future.

Chair of Christchurch– Christchurch UK
Sister City Committee
Bevan Killick is a chartered accountant andprofessional director. He held senior roles inthe Lloyd’s of London insurance market andsince returning home has been appointed to anumber of Crown, corporate and Not for Profit
boards.
Bevan holds the rank of Honorary Captainin the Royal New Zealand Navy and beenrecognised as a World Class New Zealander
by KEA, the Kiwi Expat Association. He isa Liveryman of the World Traders’ Livery
Company and a Freeman of the City of
London.

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Christchurch – Adelaide (Australia)
Christchurch – Christchurch (UK)
Auckland – Los Angeles (USA)40

Palmerston North – Missoula (USA)
Auckland – Utsunomiya (Japan)
Whanganui – Toowoomba (Australia)

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Auckland – Kakogawa (Japan)
Palmerston North – Guiyang (China)

10

Auckland – Tonga
Wellington Region – Zhejiang Province (China)

YEARS

YEARS

YEARS

YEARS
12

Bevan Killick

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2023 G CNZ CO N F E R E N C E P R E S E N TAT I O N

Mayor Nadine Taylor
Marlborough District Council
Nadine is serving her first term as Mayor of Marlborough after having served
six years an elected Councillor, including three years as Deputy Mayor. She has adegree in Political Science and History and a Post Graduate Degree in History, fromthe University of Canterbury.
Nadine took part in one of the early Marlborough / Otari Village, (Nagano, Japan), Sister City
exchange programmes when at the end of 1990 she travelled to Otari to work for a winter season
on the ski slopes of Tsugaike. It was also there that she first met her husband-to-be, Graham,
giving Otari and Japan a special and personal place in her heart.
Nadine and Graham were fortunate to be able to take their first trip back to Japan in 2019, incelebration of their 25th wedding anniversary. They travelled widely across Japan and then spenta week in the Otari villages of Tsugaike and Hakuba where they revisited the place where they
met and where they worked. They were able to reconnect again with old friends and workmates –proving the strength of Sister Cities in fostering enduring global relationships and friendships.

I N A PPR ECI ATI O N

Hiromi Morris
Emeritus President &Forum CoordinatorThank you for attending theForum which is much appreciated.
Covid pandemic has closed down our world
for the past 3 years, but now the borders are
opening and it's time for us to reconnect with
our global partners.

Sarah Ma
Administrator

Caroline Pope
Editor/Designer

I hope we provided an opportunity for all of
us to share stories and to discuss how we canfurther develop people-to-people connections
through citizen diplomacy for the benefit of thediverse community of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Sister Cities New Zealand Inc. operating as Global Cities New Zealand
PO Box 965, Palmerston North 4440, New Zealand
www.globalcities.org.nz | www.facebook.com/sistercitiesnz
For enquiries: admin@globalcities.org.nz

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Save the Date
GLOBAL CITIES

2023
BLENHEIM
7 & 8 NOVEMBER

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