Hawera impresses sister city mayor

27 May 2006
By CRAIG JEFFREYFirst impressions count – and for the visiting Mayor of Hawera's Chinese sister city, Harbin, Taranaki's landscape gave him a sense of people living happy, comfortable and relaxed lives.
The delegation, with five representatives from Harbin's development zone, foreign affairs and financial sectors were welcomed by South Taranaki deputy mayor Jack Rangiwahia yesterday.
The sister city relationship was forged two years ago and while it is still in its infancy, cultural and educational exchanges have been mapped out with a planned visit from a group Harbin of 16 and 17-year-olds.
Sharing information is high on the agenda, with the Chinese keen to learn more about New Zealand's excellence in dairy technology and farming.
It was Mayor Zhongxin's first visit to New Zealand, and through an interpreter, he was glowing in his view of Taranaki.
"We live in a city of 3 million people, which covers an area of 23,000km? so the landscape you have here is beautiful and relaxing," he said.
After a formal welcome and exchange of gifts, the delegation visited Hawera Intermediate School, where students had learned some Mandarin through their language studies.

The delegation then got a taste of Kiwi culture and history with a visit to Tawhiti museum and dinner at the Aotea Marae.
An official tree-planting ceremony will be held next to the Chinese garden at King Edward Park today at noon, followed by a scenic bus trip back to New Plymouth, where the visitors fly out at 4.15pm.