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New Zealand Sister City Directory
Does your town have an international link? See which councils, schools and institutions in Hawke’s Bay, Bay of Plenty and Waikato are linked to partners overseas, when each link began, and what has happened in it, including the work Eastern Bridge has done.
How to use it: find your area on the map or search for a council, school or city, then open History and details to see what has happened in each link since 2020. Schools: search for your school’s name; sister schools are listed inside their sister-city record, under Linked schools and organisations. Businesses and chambers: look for Economic items.
51 entries from 24 councils and 3 schools and institutions, plus 4 sister schools listed inside their sister-city record. Each has its sources. Checked 17 October 2026. About this information.
Verified active means we have found evidence of current activity in the relationship, such as a visit, exchange or programme in 2024 or later. A link without the tick may still be active; we just haven’t found a public record. Links are agreements with an overseas partner; the list also shows councils where no agreement was found.
The map couldn’t load on this connection. Every record is in the list below.
| NZ organisation | Partner | Country | Since | Type | Verified active | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Hawke's Bay District Council Hawke's Bay | ||||||
| Central Hawke's Bay District Council | No confirmed agreement found | — | — | — | Details for Central Hawke's Bay District Council and No confirmed agreement foundNo relationship found in CHBDC plans Sources for this link (1)
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| Hastings District Council Hawke's Bay | ||||||
| Hastings District Council | Guilin, Guangxi 桂林市 | China | 1981 | Sister city | Verified active | History and details 3 for Hastings District Council and Guilin, Guangxi
40th anniversary reaffirmation signed by both mayors (Mar 2021); Guilin museum exhibition; annual lantern festival in Osmanthus Gardens Sources for this link (2)
Activity since 2020
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| Hawke's Bay Regional Council Hawke's Bay | ||||||
| Hawke's Bay Regional Council | Xuzhou Chamber of Commerce (Jiangsu) 徐州 | China | Unconfirmed | MOU (not a sister-city agreement) | History and details for Hawke's Bay Regional Council and Xuzhou Chamber of Commerce (Jiangsu)
HB Today 2015 quotes HBRC: MOU with Xuzhou Chamber of Commerce, no regular contact Sources for this link (1)
Activity since 2020No activity recorded since 2020. Tell us about one. | |
| Napier City Council Hawke's Bay | ||||||
| Napier City Council | Lianyungang, Jiangsu 连云港市 | China | 1994 | Sister city | Verified active | History and details 1 for Napier City Council and Lianyungang, Jiangsu
Lianyungang govt report: delegation to Napier for 30th anniversary in 2024 plus book exchange; Napier council lists it as a formal sister city Sources for this link (3)
Activity since 2020
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| Napier City Council & Hastings District Council Hawke's Bay | ||||||
| Napier City Council & Hastings District Council | Mianyang, Sichuan 绵阳市 | China | Unconfirmed | Friendship / information-sharing (earthquakes) | Verified active | History and details 2 for Napier City Council & Hastings District Council and Mianyang, Sichuan
Napier says Napier and Hastings share earthquake information with Mianyang. No recent activity found Sources for this link (2)
Activity since 2020
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| Napier City Council Hawke's Bay | ||||||
| Napier City Council | Tomakomai, Hokkaido 苫小牧市 | Japan | 1980 | Sister city (sister port 1978) | Verified active | History and details 1 for Napier City Council and Tomakomai, Hokkaido
Listed by Napier, MFAT and Tomakomai city; Tomakomai keeps a long exchange history table (citizen and student visits). Latest year not confirmed in this pass Sources for this link (3)
Activity since 2020
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| Napier City Council | Victoria, British Columbia | Canada | 1973 | Friendly city / twin city | History and details for Napier City Council and Victoria, British Columbia
Both cities list it; Victoria's page says contact for Napier is City Hall, so it has no volunteer association. No recent activity found Sources for this link (2)
Activity since 2020No activity recorded since 2020. Tell us about one. | |
| Napier City Council | Xuzhou, Jiangsu 徐州市 | China | Unconfirmed | Economic friendship link | History and details for Napier City Council and Xuzhou, Jiangsu
Napier lists an economy-focused link. HB Today (2015) reports HBRC holds an MOU with the Xuzhou Chamber of Commerce, with no regular contact with the city. Which council holds the link is unresolved Sources for this link (2)
Activity since 2020No activity recorded since 2020. Tell us about one. | |
| EIT (Eastern Institute of Technology) Tertiary | Zhejiang Yuexiu University 浙江越秀外国语学院 | China | 2020 | Joint institute | Verified active | History and details 1 for EIT (Eastern Institute of Technology) and Zhejiang Yuexiu University
The EIT Data Science and Communication College, a joint institute set up in 2020. Sources for this link (1)Activity since 2020
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| Wairoa District Council Hawke's Bay | ||||||
| Wairoa District Council | Kitaibaraki, Ibaraki 北茨城市 | Japan | 1999 | International friendship city / sister city | Verified active | History and details 2 for Wairoa District Council and Kitaibaraki, Ibaraki
Kitaibaraki youth ambassadors visited Wairoa in March 2025 (council news 25 Mar 2025); exchanges since 1994-95 Sources for this link (3)
Activity since 2020
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| Bay of Plenty Regional Council Bay of Plenty | ||||||
| Bay of Plenty Regional Council | Jiangxi Province 江西省 | China | 2019 | Sister-province relationship (Bay of Plenty–Jiangxi) | Verified active | History and details 12 for Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Jiangxi Province
The Bay of Plenty region formed a relationship with Jiangxi Province in 2019, alongside the Eastern Bay councils. The China Volunteer Programme runs as part of the Bay of Plenty–Jiangxi sister-province relationship. Sources for this link (4)
Activity since 2020
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| Eastern Bay of Plenty Joint Committee Bay of Plenty | ||||||
| Eastern Bay of Plenty Joint Committee (Ōpōtiki, Whakatāne, Kawerau district councils) | Jiangxi Province 江西省 | China | 2019 | Sister province / friendship agreement | Verified active | History and details 3 for Eastern Bay of Plenty Joint Committee (Ōpōtiki, Whakatāne, Kawerau district councils) and Jiangxi Province
Signed by the EBOP Joint Committee; the three mayors signed (SunLive, 13 Jun 2019). The Chair of the Whakatōhea Trust Board attended. BOPRC Cr Jane Nees attended, and the late BOPRC Cr Malcolm Campbell later backed it strongly [Simon]. Volunteer programme active Sources for this link (5)
Activity since 2020
Earlier history, before 2020 (4)
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| Kawerau District Council Bay of Plenty | ||||||
| Kawerau District Council | Yingtan, Jiangxi 鹰潭市 | China | 2019 | City MOU (within Jiangxi agreement) | Verified active | History and details 7 for Kawerau District Council and Yingtan, Jiangxi
Pairing confirmed by SunLive (13 Jun 2019) and by Eastern Bridge. Sources for this link (3)
Activity since 2020
Earlier history, before 2020 (1)
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| Rotorua Lakes Council Bay of Plenty | ||||||
| Rotorua Lakes Council | Arras, Pas-de-Calais | France | 2026 | Sister city (twinning charter) | Verified active | History and details 1 for Rotorua Lakes Council and Arras, Pas-de-Calais
Twinning charter signed at Te Puia on 16 October 2026 by Mayor Tania Tapsell and Arras Mayor Frédéric Leturque. Sources for this link (2)
Activity since 2020
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| Rotorua Lakes Council | Beppu, Ōita 別府市 | Japan | 1987 | Sister city | History and details for Rotorua Lakes Council and Beppu, Ōita
Mayor Tapsell and a Rotorua delegation attended Beppu's centenary in 2024 Sources for this link (2)
Activity since 2020No activity recorded since 2020. Tell us about one. | |
| Rotorua Lakes Council | Klamath Falls, Oregon | USA | 1962 | Sister city | History and details for Rotorua Lakes Council and Klamath Falls, Oregon
Listed by council (2024 presentation); 50-year mark noted. Under a council review of sister cities approved May 2024 Sources for this link (2)
Activity since 2020No activity recorded since 2020. Tell us about one. | |
| Rotorua Lakes Council | Lake Macquarie, NSW | Australia | 1997 | Sister city | History and details for Rotorua Lakes Council and Lake Macquarie, NSW
Listed; no recent activity found Sources for this link (1)
Activity since 2020No activity recorded since 2020. Tell us about one. | |
| Rotorua Lakes Council | Pingtung County, Taiwan, China 屏東縣 | China | Not signed | Proposed MOU | History and details for Rotorua Lakes Council and Pingtung County, Taiwan, China
Council approved considering an MOU in May 2024; signing not confirmed Sources for this link (1)
Activity since 2020No activity recorded since 2020. Tell us about one. | |
| Rotorua Lakes Council | Wuzhong District, Suzhou, Jiangsu 苏州市吴中区 | China | 2000 | Sister city (friendship 1997 with Wuxian; sister city Feb 2000; re-signed with Wuzhong) | History and details for Rotorua Lakes Council and Wuzhong District, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Mayor visited Wuzhong in 2024 (council report 22 May 2024) Sources for this link (2)
Activity since 2020No activity recorded since 2020. Tell us about one. | |
| Tauranga City Council Bay of Plenty | ||||||
| Tauranga City Council | Hitachi, Ibaraki 日立市 | Japan | 1987 | Sister city | Verified active | History and details 2 for Tauranga City Council and Hitachi, Ibaraki
Hitachi delegation planned in Tauranga for Oct 2026 (strategy); Girl Guides–Girl Scouts exchange; ALT recruitment Sources for this link (2)
Activity since 2020
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| Tauranga City Council | Yantai, Shandong 烟台市 | China | 1985 | Sister city | Verified active | History and details 2 for Tauranga City Council and Yantai, Shandong
WBOP International Strategy 2026-28 lists it as active. Planned TCC/Priority One delegation to Yantai for the 40th anniversary in Aug 2026 (whether it happened is unconfirmed) Linked schools and organisations (1)
Sources for this link (4)
Activity since 2020
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| Tauranga City Council | Ansan, Gyeonggi 안산시 (安山市) | South Korea | 2014 | Friendly city | History and details for Tauranga City Council and Ansan, Gyeonggi
Listed as active in the WBOP strategy 2026-28; Education Tauranga agreement with Ansan Sources for this link (2)
Activity since 2020No activity recorded since 2020. Tell us about one. | |
| Tauranga City Council | San Bernardino, California | USA | 1973 | Sister city | History and details for Tauranga City Council and San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino still lists it, but TCC's current strategy names only three active partnerships and leaves this one out Sources for this link (2)
Activity since 2020No activity recorded since 2020. Tell us about one. | |
| Western Bay of Plenty District Council Bay of Plenty | ||||||
| Western Bay of Plenty District Council | No confirmed agreement found | — | — | — | Details for Western Bay of Plenty District Council and No confirmed agreement foundNo WBOPDC-held relationship found; it takes part in the joint WBOP International Strategy Sources for this link (1)
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| Whakatāne District Council Bay of Plenty | ||||||
| Whakatāne District Council | Fuzhou, Jiangxi 抚州市 | China | 2019 | City MOU (within Jiangxi agreement) | Verified active | History and details 10 for Whakatāne District Council and Fuzhou, Jiangxi
Pairing confirmed by SunLive (13 Jun 2019) and by Eastern Bridge; not listed on Whakatāne's sister-cities page. Sources for this link (4)
Activity since 2020
Earlier history, before 2020 (1)
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| Whakatāne District Council (via Sister Cities Assoc.) | Kamagaya, Chiba 鎌ケ谷市 | Japan | 1997 | Sister city | Verified active | History and details 2 for Whakatāne District Council (via Sister Cities Assoc.) and Kamagaya, Chiba
Mayoral group visited for the 20th anniversary in 2017; council page current. No post-2017 activity confirmed Linked schools and organisations (1)
Sources for this link (2)
Activity since 2020
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| Whakatāne District Council | Shibukawa, Gunma 渋川市 | Japan | 2016 | Friendship agreement | History and details for Whakatāne District Council and Shibukawa, Gunma
Annual school visits to Whakatāne High School since 1992 (Shibukawa); Shibukawa page updated Sept 2023 Sources for this link (3)
Activity since 2020No activity recorded since 2020. Tell us about one. | |
| Whakatāne District Council (via Sister Cities Assoc.) | Warwick, Queensland | Australia | 1994 | Sister city | History and details for Whakatāne District Council (via Sister Cities Assoc.) and Warwick, Queensland
Council lists it; a search summary says it has not been active for several years (not confirmed in page text) Sources for this link (1)
Activity since 2020No activity recorded since 2020. Tell us about one. | |
| Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi Tertiary | Beijing Foreign Studies University 北京外国语大学 | China | 2025 | MOU (strategic partnership) | Verified active | History and details 1 for Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi and Beijing Foreign Studies University
MOU signed in Beijing covering student and staff exchange, joint research and te reo Māori curriculum resources. Sources for this link (1)
Activity since 2020
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| Ōpōtiki District Council Bay of Plenty | ||||||
| Ōpōtiki District Council | Xinyu, Jiangxi 新余市 | China | 2019 | Friendship city | Verified active | History and details 11 for Ōpōtiki District Council and Xinyu, Jiangxi
Listed in Jiangxi's friendship-city list. Sources for this link (4)
Activity since 2020
Earlier history, before 2020 (1)
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| Hamilton City Council Waikato | ||||||
| Hamilton City Council | Chengdu, Sichuan 成都市 | China | 2015 | Sister city | Verified active | History and details 3 for Hamilton City Council and Chengdu, Sichuan
Sister city since 6 May 2015, building on a 2014 MOU; links date from the mid-1990s. Sources for this link (3)
Activity since 2020
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| Hamilton City Council | Saitama, Saitama 埼玉市 | Japan | 1984 | Sister city | Verified active | History and details 3 for Hamilton City Council and Saitama, Saitama
Formalised 14 May 1984 (Hamilton’s oldest sister city). Sources for this link (2)
Activity since 2020
|
| Hamilton City Council | Ieper (Ypres) | Belgium | 2013 | Sister city | History and details for Hamilton City Council and Ieper (Ypres)
Formalised February 2013. No activity found since 2020. Sources for this link (2)
Activity since 2020No activity recorded since 2020. Tell us about one. | |
| Hamilton City Council | Sacramento, California | USA | 1988 | Sister city | History and details for Hamilton City Council and Sacramento, California
Established 25 May 1988. In an October 2024 review a councillor said it was hard to identify current economic or cultural exchange. Sources for this link (2)
Activity since 2020No activity recorded since 2020. Tell us about one. | |
| Hamilton City Council | Wuxi, Jiangsu 无锡市 | China | 1986 | Sister city | History and details for Hamilton City Council and Wuxi, Jiangsu
Formalised 15 July 1986. In October 2024 a council working group reviewing all five relationships heard that a Wuxi delegation was due to visit. Sources for this link (2)
Activity since 2020No activity recorded since 2020. Tell us about one. | |
| Fairfield College School | Hangzhou Fengtan Middle School 杭州丰潭中学 | China | — | Sister school | Verified active | History and details 1 for Fairfield College and Hangzhou Fengtan Middle School
Named as the college’s sister school. Sources for this link (1)Activity since 2020
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| Hauraki District Council Waikato | ||||||
| Hauraki District Council | Jiading District, Shanghai 嘉定区 | China | 2001 | Sister city (friendly relations) | History and details 2 for Hauraki District Council and Jiading District, Shanghai
Friendly exchange agreement 6 April 2001; friendly relations agreement 14 September 2001. Sources for this link (3)
Activity since 2020
Earlier history, before 2020 (1)
| |
| Matamata-Piako District Council Waikato | ||||||
| Matamata-Piako District Council | No confirmed agreement found | — | — | — | Details for Matamata-Piako District Council and No confirmed agreement foundNo confirmed sister-city or friendship agreement found in council websites, news or the CLAIR/MFAT lists. Sources for this link (1) | |
| South Waikato District Council Waikato | ||||||
| South Waikato District Council | Yichun, Jiangxi 宜春市 | China | — | Official relationship (MOU) | Verified active | History and details 5 for South Waikato District Council and Yichun, Jiangxi
The signed MOU hangs in the South Waikato District Council chambers (confirmed by Eastern Bridge). Sources for this link (3)
Activity since 2020
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| Taupō District Council Waikato | ||||||
| Taupō District Council | Suzhou, Jiangsu 苏州市 | China | 2008 | Sister city | Verified active | History and details 2 for Taupō District Council and Suzhou, Jiangsu
Sister cities since 2008 (per Suzhou sources). Linked schools and organisations (1)
Sources for this link (3)Activity since 2020
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| Taupō District Council | Hakone, Kanagawa 箱根町 | Japan | 1987 | Sister city | History and details for Taupō District Council and Hakone, Kanagawa
Established 7 October 1987, based on shared geothermal, lakeside and mountain features. No activity found since 2020. Sources for this link (2)Activity since 2020No activity recorded since 2020. Tell us about one. | |
| Taupō District Council (Tūrangi) | Kitashiobara, Fukushima 北塩原村 | Japan | 1997 | Sister city (Tūrangi/Tongariro) | History and details for Taupō District Council (Tūrangi) and Kitashiobara, Fukushima
Formed 7 November 1997 for Tūrangi/Tongariro. No activity found since 2020. Sources for this link (2)Activity since 2020No activity recorded since 2020. Tell us about one. | |
| Taupō District Council | Nouméa | New Caledonia (France) | — | Sister city | History and details for Taupō District Council and Nouméa
Listed by the council; no date or recent activity found. Sources for this link (1)Activity since 2020No activity recorded since 2020. Tell us about one. | |
| Taupō District Council | Shaoxing, Zhejiang 绍兴市 | China | 2014 | Friendship city | History and details for Taupō District Council and Shaoxing, Zhejiang
Friendship City agreement signed in July 2014 to foster economic ties, signed by Mayor David Trewavas and the Deputy Mayor of Shaoxing (Taupō District Council). Sources for this link (1)Activity since 2020No activity recorded since 2020. Tell us about one. | |
| Thames-Coromandel District Council Waikato | ||||||
| Thames-Coromandel District Council | Misaki, Okayama 美咲町 | Japan | 2016 | Sister city | History and details for Thames-Coromandel District Council and Misaki, Okayama
Formed 4 August 2016. No activity found since 2020. Sources for this link (2)Activity since 2020No activity recorded since 2020. Tell us about one. | |
| Waikato District Council Waikato | ||||||
| Waikato District Council | Jiangyin, Jiangsu 江阴市 | China | — | MOU work supported by Eastern Bridge | Unverified | History and details for Waikato District Council and Jiangyin, Jiangsu
Unverified: recorded in Eastern Bridge records only. No public agreement was found. Eastern Bridge supported Waikato District Council with sister-city MOU work with Jiangyin in 2019. No public agreement was found. Sources for this link (1)
Activity since 2020No activity recorded since 2020. Tell us about one. Earlier history, before 2020 (1)
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| Waikato Regional Council Waikato | ||||||
| Waikato Regional Council | No confirmed agreement found | — | — | — | Details for Waikato Regional Council and No confirmed agreement foundNo sister-city or friendship agreement found in council websites, news or the CLAIR/MFAT lists. Sources for this link (1) | |
| Waipā District Council Waikato | ||||||
| Waipā District Council (Cambridge) | Le Quesnoy, Nord | France | 2000 | Sister city | Verified active | History and details 2 for Waipā District Council (Cambridge) and Le Quesnoy, Nord
Cambridge–Le Quesnoy agreement signed 2000; grounded in the town’s liberation by New Zealand troops on 4 November 1918. Supported by the Cambridge Le Quesnoy Friendship Association. Sources for this link (3)Activity since 2020
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| Waipā District Council | Moree, New South Wales | Australia | — | Sister city | History and details for Waipā District Council and Moree, New South Wales
Listed by the council; no date or recent activity found. Sources for this link (1)Activity since 2020No activity recorded since 2020. Tell us about one. | |
| Waitomo District Council Waikato | ||||||
| Waitomo District Council | Tatsuno, Nagano 辰野町 | Japan | 1995 | Sister city | Verified active | History and details 2 for Waitomo District Council and Tatsuno, Nagano
Formed 30 March 1995; a Tatsuno Japanese Garden is in Te Kūiti. Supported by Waitomo Sister City Incorporated. Linked schools and organisations (1)
Sources for this link (3)Activity since 2020
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| Ōtorohanga District Council Waikato | ||||||
| Ōtorohanga District Council | No confirmed agreement found | — | — | — | Details for Ōtorohanga District Council and No confirmed agreement foundNo sister-city or friendship agreement found in council websites, news or the CLAIR/MFAT lists. Sources for this link (1) | |
No records match.
About this information. This directory is gathered from public reports, including news articles, council documents and websites, and school newsletters, plus contributions from the public. We check every entry against a source, but we can’t guarantee it is complete or accurate. Contact us to correct or add information.
Links by partner country
46 links across 9 countries. Select a country to filter the map and the list.
| Region | Councils | Schools and organisations | Tertiary | Verified active |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawke's Bay | 8 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Bay of Plenty | 18 | 2 | 1 | 10 |
| Waikato | 17 | 3 | 0 | 7 |
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