The Trust

The Hutt Minoh House Friendship Trust was established AS a CHARITY to develop and provide Japanese education and cultural awareness.

The Trust also supports programmes and activities that will benefit and contribute to growing good relationships between the people of Lower Hutt and its sister city Minoh City as well as other nearby Japan / New Zealand relationships.

Lower Hutt and Minoh City established their sister city relationship between the two respective local authorities in 1995 and were signed by then Mayor Glen Evans, Lower Hutt and Mayor Takahashi Hashimoto, Mayor of Minoh City.

The Trust has in the past supported sports groups, schools, Japanese interest groups and events organised across the Wellington Region.

A couple of years ago the Trust reformed and moved away from representation from several neighbouring cities to focus on the Trust's namesake's relationship: Lower Hutt - Minoh.

Unfortunately, the board no longer gives funding grants for projects outside of the Lower Hutt area and has shifted its focus to boosting local events and projects to promote Japanese culture and the Lower Hutt / Minoh sister city relationship.

Hutt Minoh House Friendship Trust was registered with Charities Services New Zealand in 2008.
 

Trustees

A board of trustees oversees the Trust's activities and has representation across sectors in Lower Hutt, chaired by the Mayor of Lower Hutt. Trustees are:

  • Cr. Brady DYER, Chairman, Hutt City Councillor

  • Kazuhiko UESHIMA, Minoh City Mayor

  • Kazunari MAEDA, MAFGA President, Minoh City

  • Sue LYTOLLIS, Arts & Culture, Lower Hutt

  • Amber WALTERS, Community, Lower Hutt

  • Dr. Shinnouske TAKAHASHI, Victoria University of Wellington

  • Michelle GIBSON, Education, Lower Hutt

  • Cr. Andy Mitchell, Hutt City Councillor (Advisory Trustee)

Contact the Trust

For all governance enquiries please get in touch with the Trust Chairman and see our contact us page for all other events, activities, house  and venue bookings.