Auckland International Relations
Mayor Brown's welcome message
Auckland's Partner Relationships
History of Sister Cities
Auckland projects
Contact us
Mayor Brown’s welcome message
As Mayor of Auckland it is my great joy to share our beautiful city with international visitors.
Auckland provides a stunning natural environment surrounded by three harbours, and is vibrantly cosmopolitan with more than 150 different ethnicities residing here. It is also known as Tamaki Makarau – the place of a hundred lovers. Today Auckland is a blend of Maori, Pasifika, Asian and European cultures.
New Zealanders are known for their hospitality and as a city we welcome visitors from all over the world. Auckland is also a dynamic place to do business and has been ranked fourth internationally for its quality of living. My vision is to make Auckland the world’s most liveable city - prosperous, inclusive and an eco-city which protects its fantastic natural gifts.
To realise this vision, a global city needs global partnerships to make it truly connected. Our international relationships allow us to build on these connections to create cultural and economic opportunities for mutual benefit.
The Auckland region partners with cities and nations across the globe. As the newly formed Auckland Council, we are privileged to continue these special relationships.
I encourage you to visit and share my enthusiasm for one of the world’s most liveable cities.
Welcome to Auckland.
Nga mihi
Message from the Mayor in Japanese
Message from the Mayor in Chinese
Message from the Mayor in German
Message from the Mayor in Korean
Auckland's Partner Relationships
Like most major cities, and all leading commercial centres worldwide, Auckland Council has formal international partnerships with other cities around the world.
These partnerships are integral to Auckland being a vibrant centre for business, education and culture exchange. They profile Auckland around the world and allow us to use learnings from other cities for our own urban development and problem solving.
Auckland Council aims to create wide-ranging opportunities for residents and businesses through our global connections.
The former Auckland local authorities had relationships with cities in Australia, the Pacific, Europe, North America and Asia.
Auckland Council is priviliged to continue these relationships:
- Australia - Brisbane
- China - Guangzhou, Ningbo, Qingdao
- Germany - Hamburg
- Ireland - Galway
- Japan - Fukuoka, Tomioka, Shinagawa, Kakogawa, Utsunomiya
- Korea - Busan, Pohang
- Pacific Islands - Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Nadi Fiji
- Taiwan - Taichung
- USA - Los Angeles
"Auckland's partnerships with cities help to connect business and other sectors with some of New Zealand's most important trading partners. Business interests, tourism, education and other sectors can benefit from the experience and opportunities provided by wider international horizons. If activities are well planned and managed, these connections can make significant contributions to the city's character and prosperity."
- Michael Chilton, former Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Auckland
History of Sister Cities
International city partnerships were first initiated at the end of the Second World War, in an effort to lessen the chance of future world conflicts.
Central European cities formed alliances to foster understanding and co-operation across international and cultural boundaries. In the 1950s the concept was formalised following support from USA President Dwight Eisenhower. While the commitment to international peace and understanding remains strong, the focus of 'sister city' relationships has changed over time.
More information on Sister Cities New Zealand »
Auckland projects
Auckland conducts many activities for economic, cultural and social benefit to both our community and our partner cities.
Recent projects
Auckland welcomes a visiting Brisbane business delegation during Rugby World Cup 2011
Visiting Brisbane business delegation during the Rugby World Cup.
Recently, Auckland Council had the pleasure of hosting a Brisbane business delegation in Auckland, to strengthen business and civic linkages between our two cities.
The two-day programme included a full day of business matching for the Brisbane delegates with Auckland based businesses and organisations, and fruitful best practice exchanges between Brisbane City Council representatives and Auckland Council.
Profiling Auckland’s infrastructure and development was a core feature of the programme, including walking tours showcasing Auckland's revitalised waterfront and vibrant city centre.
The delegation also enjoyed civic and business networking opportunities, including a trans-Tasman event hosted in conjunction with BDO.
Auckland Council’s Chief Executive Doug McKay addressed the guests, noting the considerable parallels between Auckland and Brisbane, and encouraging further business connections between the two cities.
Brisbane City Councillor Angela Owen-Taylor has expressed confidence that “there will be a number of outcomes stemming from the recent visit including information sharing, new Sister City projects and new business leads”.
Auckland and Brisbane signed a sister city agreement in 1988, and this visit reinforces and furthers the strong and mutually beneficial partnership. The relationship continues to focus on bioscience, creative industries, best practice exchange and facilitating business opportunities.
Despite the rugby upset, with Ireland beating Australia in their RWC pool match, the Brisbane business delegation visit heralded many ‘wins’ and strengthened the relationship between our two cities.
Nuturing the Omoiyari Spirit in Auckland’s Youth
Six Te Atatu Intermediate students have recently returned from an enlightening overseas experience - travelling to Fukuoka, Japan for the 23rd Asian-Pacific Children’s Convention (APCC).
Eleven-year-old students Leo Ballantyne, Lauren Boyd, Zara Osborne, Matthew Oxenham, Manaia Matafeo and Tyla Sutherland represented Auckland, and New Zealand, as Junior Ambassadors at this year's Asian-Pacific Children’s Convention, accompanied by their teacher Kelly Clarke.
The convention welcomed over 200 children from 33 countries, with the goal of nurturing the 'Omoiyari' spirit of understanding and respect, thereby equipping our future community leaders.
During their stay, the students enjoyed an orientation camp, a home-stay experience with local Japanese families, and partook in multiple Japanese cultural activities.
"The students benefited enormously from this incredible opportunity, which really opened their eyes to other cultures," says Kelly Clarke.
The students also promoted Auckland and New Zealand at a public showcase event and carried out a traditional Maori performance.
As an international partner city of Fukuoka, Auckland is invited to attend this event each year, sending six 11-year-old students, along with one Peace Ambassador.
Former Junior Ambassadors who have travelled to Fukuoka (since the inception of this project in Auckland in 1989) are eligible to apply for the Peace Ambassador role.
Applications to attend next year’s convention will be sent to Auckland intermediate schools in October, and applications for the Peace Ambassador place will be sent to former APCC attendees in early January.
This year's Peace Ambassador, Nicholas Short, is now the President of the New Zealand Bridge Club.
The Bridge Club is an international organisation that promotes the APCC objectives of understanding and respect through membership branches in countries around the world.
The New Zealand Bridge Club is organising a reunion for all former Junior Ambassadors in December 2011.
Special thanks to Fukuoka City for their generous funding of this initiative, to Te Atatu Intermediate School, and especially to Kelly Clarke for her undivided care of the students whilst in Japan.
Fukuoka is one of five cities in Japan that Auckland Council has a formal relationship with.
For further information about the Asian-Pacific Children’s Convention, the New Zealand Bridge Club organisation and Auckland Council’s international partnerships please contact the International Relations unit at Auckland Council.
Animated Auckland – Celebrating Auckland’s Entries to the Hamburg Animation Award, 13 July 2011
'Das Tub' entrants and the German Honorary Consul to Auckland, Erich Bachmann.
Aliens, artists, and even an armadillo… just a handful of the skillfully crafted characters featured in this year’s entries to Animated Auckland.
Auckland’s Town Hall recently came to life in hues of lime green and purple, as students and animation industry representatives were given the 'green' carpet treatment.
On 13 July 2011, Auckland Council proudly hosted the fourth annual Animated Auckland award ceremony, celebrating Auckland’s 16 entries to the prestigious international Hamburg Animation Award.
The Hamburg Animation Award invites students and graduates from around the world to showcase their animation skills.
As part of Auckland’s strategic alliance with Hamburg, an Auckland competition runs in parallel to the international event, profiling and encouraging Auckland’s up and coming animation talent.
This year’s Auckland judging panel selected two animations to receive awards for their innovative style and story and technical brilliance.
'First Contact', a Media Design School animation depicting aliens searching for other life forms in the universe, was awarded the Best Auckland Animation for its technical style.
The judges also awarded Mardo El-Noor as the Best Auckland Style and Story for his animation 'Rock Paper Scissors' where El-Noor portrays a witty truce discussion amongst three animated objects.
Both films were awarded prizes, with 'First Contact' receiving a workshop with an animator from leading international production company Nickelodeon, courtesy of Oktobor Animation and 'Rock Paper Scissors' receiving a software package valued at $1500 courtesy of Flux Animation Studios.
Keep an eye out for 'Rock Paper Scissors' which will be screened in this year’s Show Me Shorts film festival in November. All winners also received a 12-month membership to Film Auckland and Creative Digital Content Auckland.
'Das Tub', an animation by a student group from the Media Design School, deserves special mention for their Nomination for the Audience Award at the Hamburg awards ceremony.
Out of over 140 international entries, the Hamburg jury selected ‘Das Tub’ as one of ten films to be screened at the Hamburg Award Ceremony and at a special public screening in Hamburg.
This year's 'Animated Auckland' event showcased a fantastic array of Auckland’s animation talent. The continued achievement of entries in the Hamburg competition demonstrates Auckland's competitiveness on a world stage.
Auckland and Hamburg signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2007 to encourage best practice learning and to support opportunities for growth in key sectors, particularly in the areas of creative industries, bioscience and education. From the outset of the strategic alliance, a special focus has been placed on the screen production industry.
Networking Breakfast during the NZBio Conference, 21 March 2011
On 21 March, 2011 Auckland Council hosted a networking breakfast welcoming international bioscience delegates to Auckland and connecting them to local bioscience industry representatives.
Hosted in conjunction with the Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) the event was held to coincide with the seventh Annual NZBIO conference.
Held in Auckland’s historic Town Hall the breakfast aimed to profile Auckland’s international partnership with Brisbane, forged with the signing of a sister city relationship in 1988.
Councillor Arthur Anae addressed the attendees noting the importance of the bioscience sector to Auckland and the significant mutual benefit that Trans-Tasman efforts can bring to the sector.
Professor Tony Webber, Director of the Queensland Clinical Trials Network, was the keynote speaker. He highlighted the history and importance of collaboration between New Zealand and Queensland in the bioscience sector.
Auckland Council looks forward to seeing valuable connections strengthened within the bioscience sectors here and in Brisbane following this networking event.
Japan Day, 13 March 2011
Officials attending Japan Day observe the one-minute silence (Courtesy TV3 News)
Japan Day opened on a sombre note with a one minute silence to acknowledge the tragedy that struck Japan on Friday 11 March 2011.
Councillor Arthur Anae expressed sympathies to all Japanese people who have suffered from the catastrophic impact of Friday’s earthquake and the tragic loss of Japanese students in the Christchurch earthquake in February.
Around 7000 Japanese nationals live in Auckland, and the organisers say this year's Japan Day was a chance for Japanese New Zealanders to come together during this time of tragedy.
Auckland Lantern Festival, 18 February 2011
Ox lantern
Auckland's annual Lantern Festival once again featured lanterns gifted from partner city Guangzhou. Guangzhou has gifted Auckland 3 lanterns over the years:
Monkey lantern
Gifted to Auckland in 2003 (the Year of the Monkey) this lantern depicts the clever and brave Monkey King wishing the children good lives and success in career and business.
Ram lantern
Gifted to Auckland in 2004 (the Year of the Ram) from Guangzhou. This lantern depicts a ram, considered a good omen in Guangzhou, two lambs and the God of Fortune blessing people with gifts of gold coins. Guangzhou is also known as the 'City of Rams' as rams have always been considered a good omen throughout local history and culture.
Ox lantern
Gifted to Auckland in 2009 (the Year of the Ox) from Guangzhou, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of our relationship. This lantern depicts harmony between man and nature, as well as good fortune for a fruitful harvest. Handmade from cloth, paper and wire, the lantern has more than 100 light bulbs and stands 3.6m high by 5m long.
Korean Film Festival, 2 December 2010
Prime Minister John Key at the Korean Film Festival
Auckland and Korea deepen bonds through film.
In recognition of the 60th anniversary of the start of the Korean War (1950 - 1953), and to celebrate the end of the 2010 Korean Film Festival, a special film screening was held in Auckland last night.
Prime Minister John Key and the Ambassador and Consul General of the Republic of Korea, as well as Korean war veterans living in New Zealand, attended the screening of 71 in the Fire - a Korean War movie based on a true story.
Auckland Council Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse also attended the screening and says the council is proud to be one of the festival sponsors.
"The council is honoured to be involved in the Korean Film Festival, particularly with this year's special emphasis on the 60th anniversary of the Korean War.
"Auckland has a large Korean community of around 25,000 and two sister city partnerships with Korea so it's fantastic to be able to recognise Korean culture, history and language through the highly accessible and contemporary medium of film," says Councillor Hulse.
Cr Hulse also says the film festival is vital for showcasing New Zealand to the burgeoning Korean film industry which boasts annual box office takings of more than US $1billion.
"Events like this help up create greater ties with the Korean film industry, which like our own, is fast achieving world wide acclaim.
"Already we are seeing increasing interest from Korean filmmakers coming to Auckland to shoot Korean productions. Warriors Way, a recent $40 million-plus Korean film was shot entirely in New Zealand.
"Similarly, more and more Korean television commercials and dramas are shooting in Auckland.
"This is good news for our economy," say Cr Hulse.
In 2008, the creative industries had approximately 20,512 employees in the Auckland region.
The fourth biennial Korean Film Festival screened in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch between 25 November and 1 December 2010.
The festival, which is organised in close partnership with the Korean government, and the Korean Film Council (KOFIC), was previously sponsored by Waitakere City Council. Auckland Council continues to sponsor the 2010 festival.
Contact us
For more information on Auckland’s International Relations programme, including study visit applications for international delegations visit one of Auckland Council's customer service centres.