Mayor to travel to China as part of Local Government delegation

27 July 2015

Taupo District Mayor David Trewavas will attend the New Zealand China Mayoral Forum in Xiamen City in September.

Taupo District Council this week approved the mayor's attendance on the Local Government New Zealand organised trip that will highlight a wide range of investment opportunities available across the country. He will be joined by a select group of mayors from around New Zealand.

Business development manager Chloe Walker said there had been significant investment from China in the Taupo District and as a result it had featured as one of the top destinations for Chinese investment in New Zealand, according to a recent New Zealand Herald article.

The aim of the New Zealand China Mayoral Forum was to create a strong and credible forum for peer-to-peer exchanges for mayors to discuss important business issues, strengthen cooperation and enhance friendship. Topics discussed during the trip would focus on education, tourism and primary industries which are closely aligned to the district's strengths in geothermal energy, tourism and agriculture, she said.

The trip would also provide an opportunity to further build on the Taupo District's relationship with its sister city Suzhou, and the memorandum for friendly relations signed entered into with the province of Shaoxing last year.

Mr Trewavas said the Taupo District has benefited greatly from its relationship with China over the last 20 years and it was highly important efforts were made to maintain those long term relationships and establish new ones, especially where investment could result. It was also a good opportunity to form collaborative relationships with the other council leaders that were attending.

At the end of the day it is people who make things happen and I will always do what I can to encourage economic growth, put our district on the world stage, and let people know we are open for business, he said. We can only do that by putting in the effort.

The forum is estimated to cost between $3000 and $5000 and will be paid for from the existing Sister City budget.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lisa Nairne Communications Manager 07 376 0762 027 839 8410

Taupo District Council

www.taupo.govt.nz