China link to River City most welcome

FOLLOWING Labour MP Phil Twyford's revelation that a disproportionate number of Auckland properties were being bought by people with Chinese-sounding names, we crunched some numbers here at the Chronicle.

And, yes ... the large swathe of Chronicle subscribers with Chinese-sounding names far outweighs the proportion of such monickers among the Wanganui population.

However, unlike Mr Twyford who could only see the apparent scandal of foreigners buying New Zealand houses, we welcome this investment in NZ's oldest daily newspaper, be it from overseas or otherwise.

And we are on the same page (the front page) as mayor Annette Main who, as reported in yesterday's Chronicle, heads to China in September with a view to attracting investment from that global superpower.

She will pursue a sister city link with Lijiang, a city of 1.3 million, and hopes that such a relationship will pave the way for business activity between the two and, ultimately, a significant boost for the Wanganui economy.

And before anyone cries "junket", we will say that this seems a very smart move.

While the sister city relationship with Nagaizumi in Japan has stalled somewhat, China - still an economic powerhouse despite recent stock market trembles - offers greater potential.

It is evident - as everyone from Mr Twyford to Winston Peters would tell you - that the Chinese are keen to invest in most things Kiwi, from over-priced houses in Remuera to dairy farms.

They do it, of course, for their own benefit but there could clearly be a significant upside for the River City from establishing this link.

Perhaps we can look forward to the day when Mr Twyford is jumping up and down about people with Chinese-sounding names pushing up Wanganui house prices.