A little Rotorua heads north

Japanese developers plan to build a miniature version of Rotorua in a city near Tokyo, complete with a lake, Maori carvings and street names.

It is no coincidence that Kawaguchi City should build a sister-suburb of Rotorua because the cities had long-standing athletic links, said Rotorua Marathon race director Dennis Kenny.

"The Kawaguchi marathon is a sister marathon to the Rotorua around-the-lake marathon, and during the past 20 years we have always had an exchange of runners," he said.

Japanese developers The Global Home Company has visited Rotorua to start work on plans to build a new suburb housing 300 homes in Kawaguchi City, at the base of Mt Fuji.

It will feature the cultural flavour of Rotorua with whakairo (carvings), paving stones, a miniature lake with a small island and streets with Maori names.

Two Rotorua carvers have been approached and were keen to work on the project , Rotorua mayor Grahame Hall said.

The mayor of Kawaguchi has visited Rotorua several times over the past 20 years and the cities have exchanged gifts.

- NZPA