Sister cities in for shake up

The Auckland Council will review the value of 30 overseas relationships inherited from the merger of seven globe-trotting councils. Photo / Herald on Sunday

The Auckland Council will review the value of 30 overseas relationships inherited from the merger of seven globe-trotting councils.

International ties include a sister city relationship dating back to 1971 with Los Angeles, a friendship pact with Pohang in Korea, a business alliance with Hamburg and a memorandum of co-operation with the Cook Islands.

These are on top of what businesses and residents do to foster trade, sporting and educational links.

Economic development chairman Arthur Anae said yesterday the council was "rationalising" the list.

But it did not intend to drop anyone. It would result in higher priorities to grooming friendships with some cities than others.

"Without causing any international upsets or being rude, we are looking at each one and asking where the economic gain is for Auckland and where relations should be strengthened."

The only monetary value on formal partnerships was estimated in a 2007 report for the Auckland City Council.

It said the council's eight partnerships directly added $55 million a year to Auckland's economy.

The council's budget for its international relations team averaged $400,000 a year over five years.

The Auckland Council has a similar budget for its international relationships team of four advisers and manager Tara Pradhan.

The team is identifying economic opportunities with partner cities through the Rugby World Cup 2011 and other major events.

Economic development manager Harvey Brookes said the Auckland City Council's report counted only relations with eight cities of varying size.

"You can imagine if we got clever about this how we could add huge value."

He said "inactive" partnerships were on the list because it cost nothing to have them in limbo.

"We are not in the business of severing friendships. We have to think that Auckland and its actions have national effects. You don't know where the next great market for New Zealand products might be."

Auckland Council members contacted yesterday backed the move.

Sandra Coney said it was an opportunity with the new council to rationalise all the relationships brought into the Super City over the years. Some of the community relationships should be given to local boards to enable the council's focus on the big ones.

Councillor Cameron Brewer said: "We have more sisters than a Catholic nunnery. We have to get focus and put a vision on what we want to achieve in the next decade but we can't be all things to everybody."

A word of caution came from former Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey, who said he made 11 visits to establish former Waitakere City's sister-city relationship with Ningbo, in China.

"Ningbo is an absolute bullseye for Auckland because it will be one of the great cities of the world in business terms."

SIBLINGS GALORE
Sister Cities

Brisbane, Australia, since 1988; Busan, Korea (1996); Fukuoka, Japan (1986); Galway, Ireland (2002); Guangzhou, China (1989); Huntington Beach, California (1984); Kakogawa, Japan (1992); Los Angeles (1971); Ningbo, China (1998); Pohang, Korea (2008); Qingdao, China (2008); Shinagawa, Japan (1993); Taichung, Taiwan (1996); Tomioka, Japan, (1983); Utsunomiya, Japan (2002).