Sister Cities and International Linkages - Council Policy

Objective

To ensure that Sister City and other international relationships formed by Hamilton City are relevant and effective.

Policy

Hamilton has two types of relationships with international cities that are categorised as follows:

Sister City

Limited in number, these relationships are at the highest level. The mayor plays the lead role in these relationships. The primary focus of a Sister City relationship is to foster and enhance economic development and educational opportunities, cultural ties and/or sporting contacts/exchanges.

The mayor will lead a Hamilton city delegation to a Sister City at least once during each three-year term.

Memorandum of Understanding

These are secondary level relationships that can be led by other Councillors and other people from the city rather than just the mayor. The aim of this relationship is to foster and enhance economic development and educational opportunities.

Appendix 1

Hamilton's Sister Cities as of 1 May 2003

Many countries throughout the world participate in 'Sister City' programmes on the basis that international understanding can be enhanced by people-to-people links at city level. Hamilton, New Zealand has formal links with three cities:

Saitama City - Japan

• Population 1,030,000.
• Location 24 kms north of Tokyo.
• Saitama City is the capital of the Saitama Prefecture (Province). Like Hamilton, Saitama City is a river city, situated on the Ara River. Saitama City is considered to be the third important area in Japan in terms of art and culture and has a wide range of light industry.
• The sister city relationship was formalised on 14 May 1984.

Wuxi - China

• Population 1,060,000.
• Location south west of Jiangsu Province on the Yangtze Delta, 128 kms west of Shanghai and 183 km east of Nanjing, the provincial capital.
• Bordering on Taihu Lake in the south and against the Huishan Mountain in the west, Wuxi is the second largest city in Jiangsu Province and is one of the 15 key economic cities out of 245 cities in China.
• Wuxi, known as 'land of fish and rice', is an ancient city with a history that dates back over 3,000 years. Textiles, electronics and light industry are its key industries, as well as a flourishing tourism and commercial market.
• The sister city relationship was formalised on 15 July 1986.

Sacramento - United States Of America

• Population 509,901
• Location Western seaboard of the United States of America.
• Sacramento is the capital city of the State of California. Traditionally, the regional economy has been supported mainly by Government and agriculture. However, a recent surge in growth is the result of a more diversified economy with substantial retail, service and manufacturing interests.
• Biotechnology, agriculture and tourism are key elements shared by both Sacramento and Hamilton.
• The sister city relationship was formalised on 25 May 1989