International partnerships

Key themes

Global connectedness: enhancing our reputation

Picture of a globe as a jigsaw puzzle. International partnerships give Auckland a global presence and enable us to communicate with new and different audiences. We develop and improve diplomatic relations by welcoming special guests to the city. These opportunities are leveraged to expand our overseas contacts and promote Auckland's strengths internationally.

International partnerships are also a key platform for us to build connections with consulates and local organisations. Collaboratively we are able to deliver quality programmes and initiatives with our partner cities.

"Through relationships developed in conjunction with Auckland City Council's link with Shinagawa and Guangzhou, Lynfield College has been able to enhance its international programmes - enabling its students, teachers and community to be better equipped to thrive in an inter-connected world".
Steve Bovaird, Principal, Lynfield College

Some examples

Further to our formal partner cities, we are also part of an extensive international network of cities who are members of both the Asia Pacific Cities Summit run by Brisbane and the Asian Pacific City Summit run by Fukuoka.
We collaborate with organisations such as New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Auckland Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Auckland to profile our city to our international partner cities.
We arrange study visits for international delegations that want to learn about our areas of expertise.

Best practice: improving our capability

Picture of two people looking at plans. Being the largest city in New Zealand, Auckland must reference examples of world-class success and innovation from other cities as part of our journey to excellence.

Auckland's ongoing design and development can be greatly enhanced by emulating quality infrastructure, facilities, urban development projects and problem solving strategies from abroad.

Established international partnerships are extremely important in this respect, providing opportunities to learn, to educate and to share - from the way we do business to the different sports we play. They provide an open forum for the exchange of ideas and experiences in a wide variety of areas.

"Auckland is a dynamic, international city. Being able to exchange new ideas and successful experiences with our international partners is of significant benefit to Auckland. Brisbane and Hamburg share commonalities in waterfront development projects, ongoing urban design challenges and growing populations. Busan, Guangzhou and Fukuoka are important partners for developing economic and cultural links with Asia".
John Duthie, General Manager City Development, Auckland City Council

Some examples

Brisbane and Auckland are fast growing, port cities, supporting innovative business and large populations. The two cities have worked collaboratively on many initiatives, including implementing Brisbane's bus priority measures in Auckland. A council staff exchange also allows for regular exchange of information.
Auckland's strategic alliance with Hamburg provides an opportunity to exchange learnings in key areas such as waterfront development and sustainability.
Los Angeles runs an annual Sister City Visiting Journalist Scholarship, providing an opportunity for international journalists to participate in a specialised development programme.

Business development: supporting initiatives and opening doors

Picture of three people sitting. Auckland has a partner city in six out of New Zealand's top seven bilateral trading countries (Australia, USA, Japan, China, Germany and South Korea). These partnerships facilitate mutual economic activity in the city by allowing council to open doors for businesses and educational institutes.

Formal city partnerships, with additional support from civic leaders, allow accelerated access to key networks offshore. We support the business community by facilitating reliable connections and assisting the exchange of research and technology between our international partners.

"International partnerships are helping Auckland develop into a world class city and region. As a chamber, we know these partnerships work. They have provided accelerated access and opened doors into key markets".
Michael Barnett, Chief Executive, Auckland Chamber of Commerce

Some examples

We have supported numerous delegations to the China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou - arranging seminars and meetings with key industry contacts. Formerly known as the Canton Fair, this was the first Chinese trade fair open to foreign exporters. It continues to provide significant opportunities for participating Auckland businesses.
The New Zealand German Business Association, Auckland Chamber of Commerce and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise work alongside us to link companies and implement business initiatives between Auckland and Hamburg.
We have assisted numerous Auckland businesses participate in the Fukuoka International Trade Show, which connects trade buyers and consumers with suppliers.

Tourism: showcasing our great city to the world

Picture od a sail boat sailing in Auckland harbour. Auckland has a partner city in six out of New Zealand's top seven countries for inbound visitors (Australia, USA, Japan, South Korea, China and Germany). These international partnerships provide opportunities to profile our city and all it has to offer.

We collaborate with organisations such as Tourism Auckland to actively promote our city and welcome international guests in true kiwi style. We aim to increase visitor numbers to Auckland by organising a range of promotional campaigns linked to major events in our partner cities.

"Sister city relationships deliver material economic returns for partners and stakeholders. Cross promoting each other's cities as visitor destinations is one such opportunity. Exchange of destination marketing expertise and experience enhances the market intelligence of both cities".
Graeme Osborne, Chief Executive, Tourism Auckland

Some examples

Fukuoka provided Auckland with an exhibitor's booth at a tourism promotion coinciding with Asia Month, the biggest festival in the city attracting some 200,000 visitors. Fukuoka has also hosted a 100% Pure New Zealand promotion in their busiest subway station, generating considerable interest in Auckland.
We arranged a tourism promotion to support the Film New Zealand and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise pavilion at the Busan International Film Commission and Industry Showcase (part of the Busan International Film Festival).
We worked with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and Tourism New Zealand to promote our food, wine and culture at an Auckland Fair in Shinagawa, attended by approximately 10,000 visitors.

Education: empowering our youth and supporting the education sector

Picture of university graduates throwing their caps in the air. Auckland is a youthful, vibrant city with around 35 per cent of the population under the age of 25.

For these youth, participating in sister school exchanges can encourage personal growth, enhance global understanding and influence future career and life choices.

We believe in educating our youth for world-class futures, and we continue to build on the 19 established education links with our partner cities.

Auckland is a respected centre for higher education. The city's universities welcome a large number of international students, some as a result of marketing initiatives in our partner cities. These students make a significant contribution to the city's economy and cultural diversity. Through Study Auckland, we support the students and the educational institutes they attend.

"Auckland's sister city relationships are beneficial to the schools in the region; not only from an economic perspective but also in terms of providing our students with the opportunity to participate in a variety of student exchanges and study abroad programmes".
Esther Somers, Manager, Study Auckland

Some examples

Study Auckland, the key support and coordination agency for the export education sector, has held promotions in Busan, Fukuoka, Guangzhou and Shinagawa. These have contributed to an increase in the number of fee-paying international students in Auckland.
The Tomioka Board of Education provides an annual employment opportunity for an assistant English teacher from Auckland (recruited through the JET programme).
Busan Metropolitan Government regularly sends employees to the University of Auckland's English Language Academy for eight weeks of paid tuition and a home stay experience.

Culture and sport: getting the community involved

Picture of three hans on a basketball. Auckland's international partnerships open a world of cultural interaction that encourages global understanding and co-operation.

We facilitate links with like organisations in our partner cities. This helps us extend the network of contacts through community groups and encourage people-to-people links with our partner cities.

We also facilitate sporting and cultural events with our partner cities in order to promote good will, extend the hand of friendship internationally and enhance ethnic understanding.

International partnerships enable citizens to become directly involved in programmes in a unique and meaningful way, bringing long-term benefits to the local community.

"We have been involved with sister city tourist programmes and strongly believe this is very important to us for two reasons; one being cultural exchange, and the other being of tourism benefit to the city. When visitors return to their home country, they talk with their family and friends about their good memories. This can be the best possible advertising for the city involved".
Kiyomi Gunji, Chief Executive, Southern Travelnet and Executive Member, Japanese Society of Auckland

Some examples

We organised Fukuoka Day in Auckland to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the sister city partnership with Fukuoka. Appropriate community groups assisted with the event, which saw some 6,000 residents attend to experience Japanese culture first hand.
We have facilitated a number of sporting exchanges, including dragon boating with Guangzhou, touch rugby with Brisbane and soccer with Fukuoka, Guangzhou and Busan.
Guangzhou is often involved in the annual Auckland Lantern Festival in Albert Park, sending craftspeople and donating large lanterns for display at the event.

Updated May 2008