Hutt City Council and 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.
For further information please contact David Hancock, Visitor Development Manager. Tel. +64 4 570 3373
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.
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.
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, tea ceremony, cooking and ikebana courses regularly take place. The downstairs space is available for public hire and offers excellent facilities for small conferences and meetings.
The trust generates a Japanese Education and Culture Grants Scheme in support of community groups and organisations engaging in not for profit projects that seek to develop and sponsor Japanese education and cultural awareness.
For more information contact David Hancock, Visitor Development Manager, on Tel. +64 4 570 3373 or download the application form.
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.comwww.tempesistercity.org
Lower Hutt City signed a Sister City Agreement with Tempe in 1981, and the 25-year anniversary of the relationship was celebrated in Lower Hutt in February 2006. The Hutt-Tempe relationship has involved a wide range of exchanges, and the Hutt Sister City Foundation currently runs two exchange programmes with Tempe.
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.
This programme aims to complement the professional development of educators in the Hutt Valley and in Tempe.
Each year up to three teachers are selected to take part in the exchange. After hosting uo to 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:C/- The Treasurer72 Dowse DriveMaungarakiLower Hutt
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 and Taizhou Cities signed a Sister City agreement in October 2008.
In its early stages of development, the relationship 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.
The East by West ferry service runs regularly from Queens Wharf, Wellington to the Eastern Bays with some sailings going via Somes Island.
“Made in Petone” is a unique arts & craft market where everything is handmade by those who live, work or play in Petone (no second-hand or flea-market type products here!).
The Love Shack is set on the cliff face of Fitzroy Bay on the outer reaches of Wellington Harbour, 15 minutes from Eastbourne by road, 2 minutes 50 seconds from Wellington Airport by helicopter
Americarna is a huge celebration that is based around things American; the culture, the vehicles and food.
Romance, war and politics make up the rich and fascinating history of what is now the Hutt Minoh Friendship House.
