Mayor's Message
Nelson this month hosts the Mayor and guests from the Japanese city of Miyazu as well as the Japanese Ambassador to celebrate 50 years of Nelson’s special sister city relationship with Miyazu.
Sister Cities were established by President Eisenhower to help build cultural understanding, inter-city diplomacy and peace after the horrors of World War II. Nelson’s sister city link with Miyazu is the second oldest in NZ and reflects our city’s long-term ethos of being outward looking, interested in other cultures and advocates for peace.
The initiative came about when Nelson MP Sir Stanley Whitehead, Speaker of the NZ Parliament, visited Japan and met Miyazu MP Shigesuburo Maeo, who was also Speaker of the Japanese Diet. Miyazu shares with Nelson a similar geographic feature with our Boulder Bank and their Amanohashidate. Their ambition was to build cultural understanding, enable people-to-people exchanges and grow economic links.
We have subsequently built a love and respect for the grace and culture of the people of Miyazu and Japan. Benefits include our Miyazu Garden, student exchanges, increased trade and investment and our annual Cherry Blossom Festival.
This month, the Ngā Aho Rau of 41 rangatahi from Nelson College and Nelson College for Girls travel to Japan to share culture and experiences. This is one of more than 30 exchanges that have occurred over the past 50 years.
Japan has also become Nelson’s most important international investor through Sumitomo Forestry and Nissui. Sumitomo Forestry has more than $1 billion invested in Nelson Pine Industries and Tasman Forestry and employs over 270 people in the region. It is a generous supporter of our Tasman Mako, St John, Adam Chamber Music Festival and Hospice. Nissui owns 50% of Sealord. Japan has also, over the past 50 years, become a key market for our apples, kiwifruit, hops, seafood, wood and dairy products.
This year’s Cherry Blossom Festival at Miyazu Garden on 26 September, from 11am to 3pm, is a special celebration of the 50 years when we will host our Japanese guests. The free event includes stalls, music and cultural performances. Nelson’s Bonsai Club have an exhibition in the Founders Heritage Park Jaycee Room from 9am to 4pm. You can also learn more about Miyazu from displays at Civic House and the Elma Turner Library.
