A delegation of Koreans from the city of Pohang is in Wanganui, hoping to foster closer ties between the two cities.
The group arrived in Wanganui on Tuesday evening and leaves for Auckland today.
Initial contact was made last year from the Pohang branch of the YMCA, requesting moves towards closer ties
with a New Zealand city.
When the Wanganui YMCA responded, an email relationship between the two YMCA branches began.
Since they arrived the group has been sight-seeing, including jet-boating on the Whanganui River and a visit to Bason Botanic Reserve. They have visited key Wanganui businesses, including Pacific Helmets and Q-West.
The group has also met with deputy mayor Dot McKinnon, Whanganui MP Chester Borrows and Korean MP Melissa Lee.
Yesterday morning the group was formally welcomed to Wanganui with powhiri, hosted at Cooks Gardens by members of the Whanganui iwi.
A television crew has been travelling with the group and broadcasting footage of the group's visit on a local Pohang television station.
Speaking through an interpreter, Byeong-Chul Seo, president of the Pohang YMCA and Pohang City Council's development manager, told the Wanganui Chronicle he was keen to see a relationship between Wanganui and Pohang.
"We would like to have an exchange of students between Wanganui and Pohang. We would like our students to come here to learn English."
Mr Seo said there were similarities between Wanganui and Pohang, and he would like to explore the possibility of establishing a sister city relationship with Wanganui.
"We are very, very happy to be here. We like Wanganui very much."
He said anyone from Wanganui would be warmly welcomed in Pohang.
Sian Forster from Wanganui YMCA said she was very pleased with the growing relationship between the two organisations.
"It's been really great having them here. We'd certainly like to return the favour."
Ms Forster said she was keen to see cultural exchanges between Pohang and Wanganui.
"It would be a fantastic opportunity for our young people," she said.
