Whanganui mayor invites fellow travellers for sister city visit

Visiting students from Nagaizumi singing at Wanganui East Baptist Church. Photo/Stuart Munro

Mayor Hamish McDouall will visit Whanganui's Japanese sister city of Nagaizumi in August to celebrate 30 years of friendship.

The 30th anniversary ceremony will coincide with the Waku Waku Festival in the city which is all about fun and excitement.

Whanganui District Council is a member of Sister Cities New Zealand, a national body which fosters international understanding and friendship and encourages and promotes exchanges and tourism and trade for economic growth.

Nagaizumi in Shizuoka was chosen as a sister city because of its demographic similarities to Whanganui, its rural nature and the opportunity for mutual opportunities.

"This significant celebration allows us to be positive ambassadors for Whanganui, to promote our district and to recognise the relationship's cultural, educational and economic benefits and investment," Mr McDouall said.

"I would encourage others to join me on this trip to celebrate the significant historical ties between our two cities."

Mr McDouall honoured and acknowledged the contribution of all those who have supported the relationship in the past 30 years, including the late Tomonobu Nakamura OBE, a Nagaizumi businessman and Rotarian, who encouraged honey exports and funded many exchanges.

The relationship has been marked with an official visit every decade.

A Whanganui delegation attended the 10th anniversary celebrations in Nagaizumi in 1998 and a smaller group visited Japan in 2008 to mark the 20th anniversary.

A 50-strong group from Nagaizumi is expected to attend next February's 30th anniversary of the New Zealand Masters Games in Whanganui.

School parties from both cities have also regularly participated in exchange visits.

Last year a group of Nagaizumi students was hosted in Whanganui by Rutherford Intermediate School.

The students attended class, visited marae, experienced a hangi and also visited tourist attractions.

An opportunity to join Mr McDouall, on a self-funded basis, will be available.

If you would like to attend the celebrations you can register your interest at whanganui.govt.nz before Thursday April 26.

The visit to Japan, from August 2 to 7, will include the official celebration, town tours and meetings with Nagaizumi officials.