Ningbo, China - Waitakere's Sister City

The relationship between Ningbo and Waitakere City commenced in April 1995 when a memorandum of "Friendly Co-operative Relationship" was signed. A further "Friendship and Trade" arrangement was executed in June 1995.

Commitments were made in December 1997 to enter into a full sister city relationship; these commitments came to fruition in December 1998. Ningbo has looked to Waitakere City for assistance in long term strategic planning and environmental protection strategies. There have been a number of visits to Waitakere by environmental and business delegations. The current programme includes:

Reciprocal staff exchange.
Business delegation dialogue to explore the possibilities of co-operation and exchanges in the economic and trade fields.
Educational exchanges between Ningbo College and UNITEC.
Support and encouragement of art and cultural exchanges.

Ningbo has expressed a desire to set up a system similar to that undertaken by Kakogawa City with the placement of English Teachers in High Schools and University's, in Ningbo City.

Although the initial relationship with Ningbo has centred on business and trade, Ningbo has indicated that they would like to commence Student Exchanges for 13-16 year olds in the near future.

Two Stone Lions gifted by Ningbo City to Waitakere City in 1998 proudly guard the entrance to the Waitakere City Council's Civic Centre. A reciprocal gift of three Pou Whenua were ceremonially place in Zhong Shan Square Park, in the centre of Ningbo City in 1999.

About Ningbo

Ningbo (also Ning-po), city in eastern China, lies along the middle section of Chinese coastline and is situated in the south flank of Yangtze River Delta, in Zhejiang Province, bordering Shanghai and Hangzhou.

The port of Ningbo consists of three areas: Ningbo port area, Zhenhai port area and Beilun port area. It is a major fishing port and an industrial centre on the Yong River. Ningbo has fertile land and abundant produces; it is an agricultural economy area of comprehensive developed in cereals, cotton, oil, economic native specialities and aquatic products as well as rural industry. It covers an area of 9,365 sq km and has a population of 5.2 million.