A sister city visit, that earlier this year fuelled fiery debate, proved a fruitful eye-opener for its Masterton delegates.
Mayor Garry Daniell and district councillor Jonathan Hooker say their trip to sister cities Hatsukaichi in Japan and Changchun in China had more than a few spin-offs and helped strengthen a relationship in need of rekindling.
A furor erupted earlier in the year when one councillor demanded to know why ratepayers should shell out $1600, the cost of a return flight to China, for Mr Hooker, the chairman of the International Relations committee.
But Mr Hooker, now back home, is adamant the trip was anything but a waste of money and said it particularly improved Masterton's rapport with Changchun.
"One of the senior officials said there was a feeling of disappointment that they had sent representatives here each year and that hadn't been reciprocated.
"I always had a gut feeling that was the case."
Mr Daniell said the Chinese made it "quite clear" they were disappointed.
"But it is a major effort to get away."
After flying out on August 30, the pair's first stop was to Tokyo, where hosts from Hatsukaichi picked them up and drove them to the Hiroshima Peace Park, where the atomic bomb was dropped in 1945.
While in Hatsukaichi they also met Yusho Nakamoto, of Woodone, the parent company of Masterton's Juken Nisho wood mill.
"We were able to emphasise the importance of the plant to Masterton," Mr Daniell said.
Before catching the plane to Beijing they visited one of the Woodone factories, as well as the Japanese island Miyajima.
"As we were flying over Japan we could see its mountains, valleys and rice paddies, which were a mixture of green and yellow as it's getting close to harvest season.
It was all incredibly beautiful and picturesque," Mr Hooker said.
On arriving in Changchun, he was blown away by the size of the city.
"There are seven million people in that city, compared with 24,000 in Masterton. It was amazing seeing the size of it and how it advanced it is."
The visit was timed to coincide with the city's International Sculpture Symposium, and Mr Daniell was invited to be the keynote speaker at the opening the sprawling Sister Cities Sculpture Garden.
His speech was made before ambassadors from countries across the world and was broadcast nationally.
"It was a very auspicious ceremony," he said.
They also met Masterton potter Sam Ludden, who is staying in Changchun for the symposium.
Before leaving they attended the North East Asia Trade and Investment Expo, which featured electric buses, energy-efficient lightbulbs and "everything in between", Mr Daniell said.
Mr Hooker was keen to see follow-up trips made to the two cities.
"I think it's important that we do. The Chinese, especially, have a way of establishing relationships and trust before doing business."
He said Hatsukaichi had already been asking Wairarapa's Gladstone Vineyards "serious questions" about importing wines.
"I think we may have found a real niche for importing high-end products, such as wine.
"I know there are people who think the whole trip was a just a jolly thing for a mayor and a councillor, but it achieved a lot."
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