The delegation from Sister city_Tauranga, New Zealand

The Delegation from Sister City, Tauranga, New Zealand
The Tauranga City Mayor and a 10-member delegation visited Hitachi City from April 8th to 12th. The main purpose of the visit was to promote educational, cultural and economic exchange between the two cities as part of the sister-city program. Both cities have conducted a number of exchange activities since the signing of the sister city agreement in 1988. The delegation, led by Tauranga Mayor, Mr. Stuart Crosby included the following members: Mrs. Lesley Crosby, Mayoress; Bill Faulkner, City Councillor, Mrs. Barbara A. Faulkner, Executive Secretary, Western Bay of Plenty District Council; Julie Kerry, Tourism Bay of Plenty,; Graham S. Skellern Reporter, Bay of Plenty Times; Aaron S. McCallion, Executive Director, Education Tauranga Inc., Margaret I. Cooper, Sister City coordinator, Tauranga City Council; Huikakahu Brian Kawe, Chairperson, Ngati Ranganui Iwi; Janice Kawe, Member of Ngati Ranganui Iwi; Alf McClausland, Deputy Chairperson, Ngati Ranganui Iwi.
Besides the bilateral meeting at Hitachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Tauranga delegation actively participated in events organized by Hitachi city such as Sakura Road Race, carrying Omikoshi (a portable shrine for a festival), fixing Japanese green tea at the tea ceremony, as well as Japanese style flower arrangement in the Japanese culture experiencing program. They all enjoyed actually touching the culture. On April 10th, the Tauranga delegation met the Kiwi-Hitachi Club members, a civic group which plays an active role to foster good relations between Hitachi and Tauranga. During the meeting, they discussed how they could collaborate on the Industrial Festival coming up in November, in which the KIWI-HITACHI Club will introduce and sell products from Tauranga. After the discussion, they had an extremely convivial potluck party. Ms. Akiyama, one of the KIWI-HITACHI members, gave her impression of the meeting as follows: “It was very impressive to see how much people from the Tauranga city administration and “Iwi” (“people in Maori) respect each other. Especially the way the “Iwi” talked and sung really got to our hearts and made us cry even though we don’t know any Maori. Also, the way of their respect for their ancestors and value for spiritual bond reminded us how precious the spiritual link is .” At the last night of their visit, a farewell party was given by Hitachi City at Hotel Sun Garden. Attendees included representatives from Hitachi City and the Hitachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, members of the Kiwi-Hitachi Club, members of the Hitachi Boy Scout and Girl Scout groups, students from Hitachi Second High School and Nissenko (Hitachi Senior Technical School) as well as people associated with New Zealand and Tauraunga. Mayor Crosby’s speech addressed appreciation to Mayor Kashimura and recounted the success of the visit. He extended his invitation to Mr. Kashimura and his party to visit Tauranga in two years time. Hitachi City presented a photograph, a bamboo doll, and a lantern to Mr. Crosby. In return, the Tauranga Mayor presented Mayor Kashimura with a painting, adding humorously that in Mayor Crosby’s next visit to Hitachi, he would expect to see this painting hanging on the wall in Mr. Kashimura’s office. After Mr. Yamamoto, the Chamber chairman, carried out the toast, “Kanpai,” the party mood gradually became more relaxed and friendly. There was a koto performance by an ALT Ms. Leah Baskett from Tauranga and Ms. Morimura (president of the Kiwi-Hitachi Club); a hand-bell performance by some Hitachi Girl Scouts, which led on to a chorus by the Hitachi Boy Scouts. Students from Hitachi Second High School sang a Japanese traditional folk song, Soran-bushi, and some Nissenko students sang “Country Roads”. Also, Mr. Kawe suggested singing a Maori song and everybody joined in singing in Maori. Mr. Kawe said that he will always remember the kindness and goodwill extended by the people of Hitachi, and would like to invite everyone to Tauranga’s “Marae” (a “Marae” is a special and sacred place for Maori people). Even after the party finished, some people lingered on enjoying each other’s company. It was a very pleasant evening.

	On April 12th, Mayor Crosby, Mayor Kashimura and both city leaders planted a cherry tree at the top of Kamine Mountain to commemorate their visit and their strengthened friendship. 　 (contents table) (home)