Japanese tree planted for 25th anniversary
Representatives from Kumagaya, in Japan, and officials from the Invercargill City Council met yesterday to celebrate 25 years of a sister-city relationship.
A Japanese Pieris japonica tree was planted by Kumagaya Mayor Kiyoshi Tomioka, Queens Park manager Robin Pagan and Yoshitomo Miyashita to mark the 25-year relationship and celebrate a brother-sister school relationship with the two cities.
The tree was planted at the Japanese Garden in Queens Park.
Invercargill schools Southland Boys’ High School, Southland Girls’ High School and James Hargest College have sister and brother school relationships with schools in Kumagaya.
Invercargill has sister-city agreements with Kumagaya and Suqian City, China.
Construction of the Japanese Garden in Queens Park started in 1997.
Invercargill City Council communications manager Eirwen Mitchell said the relationship had been hugely successful.
‘‘It doesn’t last for 25 years without being successful,’’ Harris said.
Pagan said it was important for people to see other people’s cultures as it is represented through gardens and landscapes.
People might eat or drink differently, but lifelong friends were made as part of the school relationships, Pagan said.
It was thought more than 2000 people had taken part in exchanges between the sister cities.
As part of the event, the representatives traded honey, vegetables and car parts.
Eirwen Harris