Japanese developers plan to build a miniature version of Rotorua in a city near Tokyo, complete with a lake and Maori carvings and streets names.
But it was no coincidence that Kawaguchi City should build a sister-suburb of Rotorua because the cities had long-standing athletic links, Rotorua Marathon race director DennisKenny said.
Japanese developers, The Global Home Company, recently visited Rotorua to start work on plans to build a new suburb housing 300 homes in Kawaguchi City, at the base of Mount Fu ji.
The suburb will feature the unique cultural flavour of Rotorua with Maori whakairo (carvings), paving stones, a miniature lake with a small island and streets with Maori name s.
Two Rotorua carvers have been approached and were keen to work on the project, Rotorua mayor Grahame Hall said.
"The Kawaguchi marathon is a sister marathon with the Rotorua around-the-lake marathon and during the last 20 years we have always had an exchange of runners," Mr Kenny said.
The mayor of Kawaguchi has visited Rotorua several times over the last 20 years and gifts have been exchanged between the two cities.
