hutt city counCil news release
Mayor Ray Wallace will be leading a Hutt City delegation to our sister city Minoh, in the Osaka Prefecture of Japan from 1-5 October this year.
The aim is to deepen the connection between the two cities, and increase educational, art and business opportunities.
The visit marks the 20th anniversary of friendship between the two cities. The occasion will be celebrated with a New Zealand Autumn Fair in Minoh, which will include a Kapa Haka performance by students on exchange from Tui Glen School. New Zealand wine and food products will be showcased at the Autumn Fair.
Mayor Wallace says, “We already enjoy a close relationship with Minoh City with many regular exchanges and we’re keen to develop it. We will be looking to increase visitors to the city and Hutt Minoh Friendship House, which was established in Lower Hutt with generous support from Minoh City. We will also be signing a new teacher exchange programme, and establishing an art exchange.
“We also have a focus on developing business connections– Japan is the world's third largest economy so it’s a huge opportunity. It is a key market for New Zealand goods and services, and also an important source of innovation and research which Lower Hutt strongly identifies with.”
The 32 member delegation will be the largest to visit Minoh from Lower Hutt, including the group of 13 on exchange from Tui Glen School. Hutt City Council is covering travel costs for five of these delegates and an interpreter.
Delegates include representatives from:
- Hutt Valley Rotary,
- Hutt City Arts and Culture Advisory Group,
- Epuni School,
- Tui Glen School,
- Hutt Minoh Friendship Club,
- Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce,
- Active Wellington,
- Sister Cities New Zealand, and
- Hutt Art Society