29 January 2016

Mayors Enthusiastic Following Sister City Visit

The sister city relationship between Rotorua and Beppu has been given a significant tick of approval by the Japanese city’s newly-elected mayor Yasuhiro Nagano following his visit to New Zealand this week.

Mr Nagano was sweeping in his praise of the hospitality he and his delegation received in Rotorua over three days and said he was “very impressed” by what Mayor Steve Chadwick and her council had achieved in two years.

He was particularly interested in Rotorua’s 2030 vision and the way Rotorua Lakes Council worked with its community to achieve the district’s goals.

His impressions were shared by Mayor Chadwick who voted the visit a “huge success”.

“There are some really strong similarities between our two cities and as we have done, he is looking at innovation and reform within his council. Mayor Nagano and his delegation were very impressed with what they saw and heard during three very full days of meetings and getting around the city,” she said.

“The hook Mayor Nagano was most interested in was how we are connecting and working with our community in order to progress our vision and for me that interest reinforced for me just how important that is.”

Mayor Chadwick says the Beppu delegation set the agenda for their visit to Rotorua.

“They told us what they wanted to see – they came to pick our brains and share information and that’s what these sister city relationships are about. There’s strategic value for both cities and given the similarities between Rotorua and Beppu, including similarities in the pressures and issues they face, it’s a good fit for us,” she said.

One reason for the visit was to learn about Rotorua’s experience as a host during the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Beppu is a host city in 2019.

“I was pleased to see the willingness from Rotorua to provide support in whatever way they can,” said Mayor Nagano.

“The World Cup is going to be very important for Beppu.”

The delegation visited Kuirau Park, Rotorua Museum, Okawa Bay, Redwoods, the International Stadium and Te Puia.

“I was very impressed at the harmony between the citizens of Rotorua and the Maori people.

“Though your city is a compact one, you also take advantage of the beauty of nature and incorporate it into what you do.

“That organic expansion integrates well with the city plans. I liked the benefits the Green Corridor offers the city by having a shared space that is safe from traffic,” said Mayor Nagano.

Two years ago then Beppu mayor Hiroshi Hamada and Mayor Chadwick announced plans to jointly develop a Beppu Onsen facility in Kuirau Park to incorporate an existing thermal foot pool and a communal steam kitchen.

The park is tagged for redevelopment and is part of a vision to develop Rotorua’s spa and wellness industry.

“The scale of the project is impressive. I like the concept of it which is to expand the whole location. The collaboration with the private sector works well.”

Rotorua Lakes Council’s wider strategy is to redevelop and upgrade Kuirau Park over a number of years - improving connectivity with the inner city and encourage more widespread use of the park.

The concept is for a series of five specialty and feature gardens in Kuirau Park. They will be connected by a combined public walkway and cycle path integrated with the new Green Corridor, and linking key attractions and activities within the unique geothermal reserve.

A new entranceway will lead people into Kuirau Park and to five new gardens, including a contemporary New Zealand garden featuring Rotorua-specific native vegetation, an interactive scent garden, a hosta garden for spring and summer months, and climbing gardens with vertical structures.

Asked to provide a highlight, Mayor Nagano said the whole visit was excellent. “From the moment we arrived to the moment we left, the effort to greet us, help us, entertain us and make us happy made the trip worthwhile.”

Mayor Chadwick said to have Rotorua chosen as the new mayor’s first sister city visit was wonderful following her visit to Beppu 18 months ago.

“This is a strong, enduring relationship which began nearly 30 years ago and we have started to jointly think about how our two cities might mark that milestone in 2017.”

Marking that milestone was foremost in Mayor Nagano’s thoughts too.

“I want there to be something very meaningful to both sister cities,” he said.

Beppu and Rotorua have been sister cities since 1987 when then Rotorua mayor John Keaney established the relationship. It was strengthened by mayors Grahame Hall and Kevin Winters after him and Mayor Chadwick was keynote speaker last year at Beppu’s celebration of 100 years as an onsen spa city.

• Mayor Chadwick will host the Sister Cities New Zealand regional focus group meeting on Tuesday 8 March at the Rotorua Lakes Council, Council Chamber.
• She will speak about the Beppu sister city relationship.
• Other participating mayors or city representatives will talk about current sister city activities
• For more information on Sister Cities

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