N E W S L E T T E RFebruary 20192019 SCNZ Conference update: NZIER analysis andreport to be released at conference
Register Now
By Toni Grace, Palmerston North City Council
Participants are invited to register for the 2019 SCNZ
Conference to be held in Palmerston North from 21-23
March. Early-bird rates end 1st March!
The SCNZ Board is also pleased to announce that an updated
analysis report on the economic benefits of Sister Cities
will be launched and discussed at the conference. Make
sure you register to take part in the valuable conversation
about the reports findings and recommendations.
The report on “Maximising the economic outcomes ofglobal city partnerships” is being produced by the New
Zealand Institute for Economic Research (NZIER) and is
jointly funded by the Ministry ofForeign Affairs and Trade, Local
Government New Zealand andSister Cities New Zealand.
“In line with the conference
theme
Prosperity
throughPartnership the report has
been commissioned to explore
how New Zealand’s various
international city partnerships
can live up to their economic
diplomacyandeconomic
development potential”, says Toni

> Click to view the conference information packGrace of Palmerston North City Council (PNCC) and theSCNZ Board.
Palmerston North Mayor Grant Smith says that conference
discussions will deep dive into how NZ cities andregions can achieve the best economic and community
development outcomes from international relationships.
This includes Sister and Friendship Cities, but also newforms of economic alliance, global city networks and other
innovative forms of city or regional relationships.
Other sessions at the conference will discuss how Sister
Cities can leverage the 2019 China NZ Year of Tourismand Japan Rugby World Cup, Olympic & World MastersGames, and also ways to cooperate with city partners on
environmental issues and initiatives.
SCNZ and PNCC are proud to have secured several key
sponsors for the conference including main conference
partner Toyota New Zealand, ongoing Awards Sponsor
Air New Zealand, and other supporting sponsors Local
Government New Zealand (LGNZ), Orbit World Travel,
Embassy of Japan, Japan Council of Local Authorities
for International Relations (CLAIR), the 2019 China New
Zealand Year of Tourism (MBIE), Central Economic
Development Agency (CEDA) and Universal College ofLearning (UCOL Palmerston North).

> Click to view the online registration form

New Zealand welcomes the ChinaNew Zealand Year of Tourism 2019
By Katherine MacGregor, MBIE
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment isproud to support the Sister Cities’ National Conferencein March this year under the China-New Zealand Year ofTourism brand.
The Year of Tourism is a cross-government bilateral
initiative with China, with New Zealand’s activities
coordinated by MBIE. Our key objective for the Year is topromote year round travel throughout New Zealand. Thisis a great opportunity for cities in New Zealand to further
build economic and social relationships with their Sister

City counterparts in China
based on tourism in bothdirections.
To find out more about the China-New Zealand Yearof Tourism, to publicise China-related events inyour regions, download practical resources, and to
apply for use of the official Year of Tourism logo see
www.cnzyot.govt.nz.
If you would like to get involved please contact MBIE’s
tourism policy team at cnzyot@mbie.govt.nz.

N E W S L E T T E R
February 2019

Rekindling friendships and strengthening ties between
Whanganui and Japanese sister city Nagaizumi-cho
By Marianne Cavanagh, Whanganui District Council
An official delegation from Whanganui’s Japanese sistercity Nagaizumi-cho visited Whanganui in January –further strengthening the 30-year relationship.
The reciprocal visit follows the 30th anniversary of thesister-city relationship last year, with celebrations heldin Nagaizumi-cho attended by an official Whanganuidelegation.
The delegation to Whanganui included Nagaizumi Mayor
Osamu Ikeda and his wife Yoshiko, Nagaizumi Chairman
Hideki Uematsu, Nagaizumi Education Board Superintendent
Nobuaki Ishii and General Affairs Department Manager
Kazuo Shinohara.
Joining them for the official welcome and powhiri at theWhanganui-based New Zealand International Commercial
Pilot Academy were officials from the Embassy of Japan in
New Zealand, Sister Cities New Zealand and representatives
from the Council of Local Authorities for International
Relations (CLAIR) in Sydney.

The delegation’s itinerary included visits to schools that hoststudents from Japan, industry site visits to major Whanganui
manufacturers, a picnic at the Japanese Tea House (whichwas gifted to Whanganui by Nagaizumi-cho several years
ago and is now established at Bason Botanic Gardens),
scenic flights and a cruise on the Whanganui River on theMotor Vessel Wairua, which is one of the original riverboats
that plied the river in the early 1900s. The delegation evenhad a chance to take the helm of the riverboat!
The delegation also visited New Zealand Glassworks (NewZealand’s national centre for glass) and Quartz, Museum ofCeramics, which houses more than 400 ceramic works.
The visit was also an opportunity to rekindle friendships
made during the 30th anniversary celebrations, with aninformal dinner between the Japanese visitors and membersof the official Whanganui delegation who visited Nagaizumicho in August last year.

Clockwise from top left: The official welcome at the New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy, based at Whanganui Airport; Mayor Osamu
Ikeda gives the thumbs up before take-off on his scenic flight over Whanganui; The delegation enjoying a cruise on the Whanganui River on the Wairua– one of the original riverboats that operated on the river in the early 1900s; Mayor Osamu Ikeda and his wife Yoshiko at the wheel of the riverboat: Thedelegation was treated to a game of cricket led by Whanganui MayorN E W S L E T T E RFebruary 2019

South Island Lantern Festival – 22-24 February 2019
By Bernard Duncan, Christchurch China Sister City Committee
The Lantern festival was developed by Christchurch as
an event to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

the festival site. These glow in all their glory as the nightdarkens.

It is now the largest and most comprehensive celebrationof the Chinese people and their culture in the South
Island. 40,000 to 50,000 people come to experience thegreat food culture and performing arts of both local andinternational Chinese artists.

The Christchurch China Sister City Committee isfully involved with the festival. Reflecting the 35 year
relationship the city has with Gansu Province, twelve
performers and a ‘paper cut’ expert will be flying in fromGansu for the festival. The committee will also have astand at the festival to describe its activities. A replica of
the ancient Wuhan bells will also be on display. This wasa gift from the city of Wuhan to Christchurch at the time
this relationship was established.

The event is free to the public and held in the earlyevening over three days along the Avon River in the CBD.
There will be two fixed outdoor stages for performances
and traditional Chinese food will be available from localvendors. A highlight of the event is the many lanterns
reflecting elements of Chinese culture displayed all over> Click to learn more about this event

Asia NZ Foundation Leadership Network
applications open now
By Ryan Smith, Asia NZ Foundation
The Leadership Network equips New Zealand’s best
and brightest to thrive in Asia. We support members
to achieve, lead and learn about Asia so that New
Zealand can succeed in this fascinating, challenging
and important region. If you are between 20 and 30 andcommitted to building New Zealand-Asia relations, wewant to support you to become the best leader you canbe with the ultimate aim of building your confidence tothrive in and with Asia. Our network is diverse, global,driven, innovative and ambitious – all the best qualities
that Kiwis possess.

> Learn more and apply now
on the Asia NZ Foundation website

N E W S L E T T E RFebruary 2019

Tempe & Lower Hutt Sister Cities gift doll to young
hospital patientBy Paul Duffin, Hutt Sister City Foundation.
On Friday 11 January the directors of Tempe Sister Cityand their Lower Hutt counterparts delivered a surgery
companion doll to Hutt Hospital children’s ward tohelp a young patient.

countless hours over the past 2 years designing, sewing
and selling dolls, then gifting proceeds to cleft charities.

The doll will be given to a girl who has visited the hospitalfor several things including a cleft palate.

She received so much positive feedback for making a dollthat was perfectly imperfect that she began to discovera passion for making dolls with differences. From a dollwith a scar across her chest, to a doll with a crown ofstitches.

It was made by 10-year—old Stitches by Charlottefounder Charlotte Gould who is from Arizona and had
to undergo four surgeries after she was born with a cleft
palate.
Stitches by Charlotte was created after Charlotte
received a sewing machine for Christmas. She has spentCharlotte sewed her ﬁrst doll to look just like her— longbrown braids, glasses, a sweet smile with a tiny scar.

The dolls come with a small sewing needle and thread tocustomise for the patient.

David Carerra (from Tempe), Suzi Dufﬁn, Deanna Carerra (from Tempe), Sagni Prasad (Clinical Nurse Manager), Paul Dufﬁn andHVDHB interim chief executive Dale Oliff