Whanganui District Council delegation visiting Japan, China and Singapore in June

Exchange students from Nagaizumi-cho perform in council chambers in 2023. Photo / NZME

A Whanganui District Council delegation will travel to Asia this year, with the trip set to cost $40,000.

In June, Mayor Andrew Tripe, along with three staff from economic development agency Whanganui & Partners (W&P), will visit Nagaizumi-Cho, Tokyo and Kobe in Japan, Lijiang in China, and Singapore.

Incoming council chief executive Doug Tate, or a delegate, will also attend.

W&P economic development lead Tim Easton said there were “three work streams” for the council’s international relations – Whanganui’s Sister City network, the Unesco Creative Cities network, and export-led delegations.

Whanganui’s sister cities are Nagaizumi-cho and Toowoomba.

Easton told councillors at a March 24 meeting that Whanganui’s relationship with Lijiang was progressing rapidly until Covid-19.

June’s trip would reinvigorate it and “progress it through to an actual Sister City”.

His report to the council said mayoral attendance was critical.

“Both Lijiang and Nagaizumi-Cho require senior political engagement to maintain credibility and progress their respective relationships.

“In particular, advancing Lijiang as a Sister City now requires a clear signal of commitment through mayoral participation.

“Without this, it is recommended that Whanganui cease pursuing the relationship.”

Whanganui is a Unesco City of Design, as are Kobe and Singapore.

Councillor Charlotte Melser asked if rising fuel costs and global unrest could mean the trip was postponed, or cause the budget to “blow out”.

Tim Easton says the trip will "reinvigorate" Whanganui's relationship with Lijiang. Photo / NZME

Council chief strategy officer Sarah O’Hagan said the council would consider sending fewer delegates or cutting the trip short if costs rose.

Postponement was also an option, she said.

Melser and councillors Glenda Brown, Josh Chandulal-Mackay, Geoff Hipango, Mike Hos, Philippa Baker-Hogan, Julie Herewini and Rob Vinsen voted to approve the trip.

Councillors Peter Oskam, Ross Fallen and Michael Law were against.

Tripe abstained, and councillor Kate Jobin was absent.

Easton’s report said Tokyo represented a high-value opportunity that aligned with Whanganui’s international education and economic development objectives.

“In 2025, a cohort of 40 Tokyo students visiting for four days generated an estimated $35,000 in local economic value,” it said.

“There is currently a proposal from TBoE [Tokyo Board of Education] to scale the 40-student programme to 200 students for a 2-3 week duration.”

Another goal was the establishment of a Kosen (National Institute of Technology) campus in Whanganui, “preferably co-located with Ucol”.

The report said Kosen teaching staff would be locally based and about 80 Japanese technical students would study in Whanganui for two trimesters each year.

Brown said some would say it was a bad time to take the trip.

“But there will be a lot of other people looking at it strategically and from a business point of view, and know it’s an absolutely necessary thing.”

Oskam said because of upcoming central government reforms, such as water delivery, rates capping and the Resource Management Act, the mayor was needed in Whanganui.

Tripe said the visit was “not a jolly”.

He led a delegation to Toowoomba in 2024, the first since 2015.

“These trips are hard work, and so they should be,” he said.

“I want to make sure the outcome is for the benefit of Whanganui and our region.”

Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present his focus is local government, primarily Whanganui District Council.