Mayor’s Message: Miyazu Sister City 50th

We mark 50 years this month of our Sister City relationship with the Japanese city of Miyazu. US President Eisenhower established the Sister City programme to improve cultural understanding in the aftermath of World War II.

Our relationship with Miyazu is the second oldest of hundreds of Sister City agreements in NZ. We can be proud of being early starters. It reflects Nelson’s long-term ethos of being outward looking, interested in other cultures and advocates for peace.

The horror and hurt of World War II were still raw in 1976. It took courage then for both cities to lay a path for reconciliation. The initiative came from a meeting of Nelson MP Sir Stanley Whitehead, Speaker of the NZ Parliament, and Shigesuburo Maeo, the Speaker of the Japanese Diet, from Miyazu. Our cities share similar geographical features of the Boulder Bank and the Amanohashidate.

We have subsequently built a love and respect for the culture and grace of the people of Miyazu and Japan. Benefits include our Miyazu Garden, dozens of student exchanges and the annual Blossom Festival.

Japan has since become one of Nelson’s most important economic partners. Sumitomo Forestry, through Nelson Pine Industries and Tasman Pine Forests, has invested more than $1 billion in our region and employs over 270 people. They are generous sponsors of our Mako, Adam Chamber Music Festival and Hospice. Nissui, as 50% owner of Sealord, is also an important investor and employer. Japan is a key market for our apples, kiwifruit, hops, seafood, wood and dairy products.

The 50th anniversary on 7 May was marked by a stunning lunchtime concert at the Nelson Centre of Musical Arts and a dinner at Tides of the Nelson Miyazu Sister City Association that included representatives from Sumitomo, Nissui and the Japanese Embassy.

I accepted an invitation to join their celebrations in Miyazu this week and presented a beautiful painting of our Boulder Bank by Nelson artist Belinda Wilson. I am also visiting the Sumitomo Forestry and Nissui HQs and the NZ Embassy in Tokyo. Other members of the delegation, who paid their own costs, include Councillor Mel Courtney (who was both Nelson’s MP and a Councillor in 1976) and my wife Linley, who is the volunteer chair of the Nelson Miyazu Sister City Association.

We look forward to hosting Miyazu’s Mayor and delegation for this year’s special 50th Blossom Festival at Miyazu Garden on Saturday, 26 September.

Mayor
Nick Smith