Crown Prince and Princess of Japan, greeting

Saturday 14 December 2002

Your Imperial Highnesses, Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako, Ambassador Matsumoto and Mrs Matsumoto, members of the Imperial Palace of Japan, Minister of the Crown and other distinguished guests - on behalf of the people of Christchurch, welcome to our city.

We are delighted you have chosen to come to Christchurch.

Christchurch is a city of gardens and romance. We welcome over 100,000 - yes 100,000! - Japanese visitors each year, who come to Christchurch to see our public and private gardens. We are a very popular city for Japanese weddings and we frequently see Japanese bridal parties in our beautiful parks and gardens within the central city

Our city is also a gateway to adventure, mountains, lakes and the beautiful scenery of the South Island that attracts visitors from all over the world.

Christchurch is increasingly popular as an education destination among Japanese students. We boast five state tertiary institutions and 35 English language schools, all offering internationally recognised qualifications.

Education has provided the opportunity for direct contact between our two peoples, while more formal ties have been forged through our sister city connection.

Christchurch was the first New Zealand city to develop a sister city relationship with Japan. Next year we will proudly celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Christchurch and Kurashiki Sister City link.

Across the 30 years there have been many student, cultural and sporting exchanges that have enabled international friendships to develop and grow, at a people-to-people level.

We have been blessed with Japanese Ambassadors and Consuls who have helped strengthen the commitment to ensure greater peace and understanding between our two countries.

The visit today from your Imperial Highnesses sets a seal on what will prove to be a new chapter in the growth of mutual respect and friendship between our two nations.

Your Imperial Highnesses, I would now like to present to you our gift from the people of Christchurch and Canterbury - it is a very large and beautiful sheepskin rug, which is too heavy for me to hand personally to you. Perhaps baby Princess I-ko will enjoy crawling on it, as all kiwi children love to do.

I am sure you will enjoy your short visit to New Zealand and hope that you will visit Christchurch again in the future.