Sister Cities

Hutt City Council and the community interest group Hutt Sister City Foundation work with our international partners to develop links in areas of education, cultural exchange and understanding, business development opportunities, sport and tourism.

 As well as endorsing a limited number of formal relationships, Hutt City Council engages with other international contacts from time to time to support community and business involvement in a wide range of exchanges at all levels.

Hutt City Council's International relations are directed through the City Development team, which is part of the Development Services Group.  For further information please contact David Hancock, Visitor Development & International Relations Manager.  Tel. +64 4 570 3373

Minoh, Japan

Minoh City has a population of 120,000 and is situated 20km from Osaka city centre in the northwestern part of Osaka Prefecture, Central Honshu.

Tourists are attracted to Minoh Quasi National Park, with its extensive area of natural flora and fauna. The Park is also home to various temples and shrines that are steeped in history.

Hutt City - Minoh City Exchanges

The formal relationship between Hutt City and Minoh City was established in 1995, and the level of exchange between the two cities is frequent and varied. Some exchanges take place annually or on a bi-annual basis, while other activities are one-time events.

School Exchanges Each year around 20 Minoh

Hutt Minoh Friendship House

Hutt Minoh Friendship House is a unique community facility providing a centre to facilitate exchanges and ongoing friendship between the people of New Zealand and Japan. Operated by a Trust Board with representation from throughout the Wellington region, it is a focal point for exchanges and the promotion of Japanese culture.

 Japanese language classes and other activities such as cooking and ikebana courses regularly take place. The downstairs space is available for public hire and offers excellent facilities for small conferences and meetings.

 Accommodation for visitors with an interest in Japanese culture can be made available at the house.

Grant Scheme

The trust generates a Japanese Education and Culture Grants Scheme in support of community groups and individuals engaging in not for profit projects that seek to develop and sponsor Japanese education and cultural awareness.

For more information contact David Hancock, Visitor Market Development & International Relations Manager, on +64 4 570 3373

 Tempe AZ, USA

Tempe has a population of 158,000 and is centrally located in the state of Arizona approximately 10 minutes from Phoenix City's Sky Harbour International Airport. The city enjoys over 300 days of sunshine per year, with average annual rainfall of 19.4 cm. Major industries include high technology, manufacturing, education, commerce and tourism. Tempe is also the home of the USA's fifth largest university, Arizona State.

www.tempecvb.com

www.tempesistercity.org

Hutt City - Tempe City Exchanges

Lower Hutt City signed a Sister City Agreement with Tempe in 1981, and the 20-year anniversary of the relationship was celebrated in Lower Hutt in February 2001. The Hutt-Tempe relationship has involved a wide range of exchanges, and the Hutt Sister City Foundation currently runs two exchange programmes with Tempe.

Student Exchange

This highly successful two-way exchange programme is an opportunity for young people to develop their understanding and experience of other cultures by living with a family in Tempe.

After completing a formal selection process including interviews and reviewing essay applications, the Hutt Sister City Foundation selects four young people from Hutt City to take part in the programme. Participants home host their Tempe 'brother' or 'sister' for five weeks in June-July and then travel to Tempe for a five-week home stay in July-August.

The Hutt Sister City Foundation manages the programme and requires selected students to pay $400.00 towards their airfares; the remainder is paid by Hutt Sister City Foundation. Students are required to pay for their own travel insurance. In return students, together with their parents, are required to participate in Foundation fundraising activities, the proceeds of which are used to run an action-packed programme for the Tempe participants in Hutt City.

This exchange is a fantastic opportunity for young people from different cultures to interact with and learn from each other whilst making lifelong friendships.

Teacher Exchange

This programme aims to complement the professional development of educators in the Hutt Valley and in Tempe.

Each year three teachers are selected to take part in the exchange. After hosting three teachers from Tempe in June-July the delegates travel to Tempe where they are home hosted for three weeks over the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

Hutt City exchange participants are given the opportunity to observe a variety of classes in Tempe schools, visit with other educators in similar fields as well as the opportunity to travel to other places in the Southwest.

The Hutt Sister City Foundation provides a $1500 contribution towards individual airfares.

For general enquiries about the Tempe Sister City relationship contact:
Hutt Sister City Foundation
72 Dowse Drive
Maungaraki
Lower Hutt

Taizhou, China

Taizhou City is situated in Jiangsu Province, near the mouth of the Yangtze River and a four-hour drive from Shanghai. The Taizhou Government administers an area of 5,800 square miles, with a population of five million people. Taizhou is a modern city that has enjoyed a growth rate exceeding 10% per annum over the last 20 years. Major industries include automotive, appliance, electronic and pharmaceutical production.

Hutt City- Taizhou exchanges

Hutt and Taizhou Cities signed a Friendly City agreement in February in 2005. In its early stages of development, the realationship focused on local government-to-government exchanges.

Business links are now being established as the next stage, with the ultimate aim of generating economic benefits in both cities. Potential opportunities have been identified in education and other industries, and a number of proposals are being developed. Hutt City and Taizhou are also working together on a variety of community exchange possibilities.