Auckland International Relations
Mayor Brown's welcome message
Auckland's Partner Relationships
History of Sister Cities
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 Tāmaki Makaurau – 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 (PDF 214kb)
Message from the Mayor in Chinese (PDF 282kb)
Message from the Mayor in German (PDF 67kb)
Message from the Mayor in Korean (PDF 396kb)
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 »
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.