Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick is to welcome a New Zealand/China Maori Friendship Trust delegation when they visit Rotorua Lakes Council's Civic Centre on Friday.
The delegation will be accompanied by prominent Te Arawa leader, Sir Toby Curtis.
Following a welcome address by Mrs Chadwick and response from the delegation leader, there will be an exchange of gifts before the delegation is hosted to a mayoral morning tea.
The visiting delegation is headed by Guizhou Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries vice president Ms Chen Guode.
The other delegation members are Guizhou Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries secretary-general Ms Xue Youqiao, Kaili City general-deputy mayor Mr Yang Chengjin, Zunyi City director of foreign affairs' office Ms Yu Bo, Guiyang Ethnic Senior High School vice director of administration office Mr Li Xu, uizhou Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries/Chin-Mao interpreter Ms Wang Rui, New Zealand China Maori Friendship Trust chairwoman Patricia Tauroa and Kaitakawaenga Matauranga/Chin-Mao Ms Robyn Tauroa.
The New Zealand China Maori Friendship Trust (Chin-Mao) was established by former New Zealand Race Relations conciliator Hiwi Tauroa, following his participation in a New Zealand China Friendship Society delegation visit to China in 1981, as guests of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.
Discussions with New Zealander Rewi Alley in China at that time led to a request for the trust to consider friendship delegation exchanges with Maori people, with the first Maori delegation visiting China in May 1984.