Luncheon speech

Monday 4 August 2003

Mayor Nakada, dignitaries, officials and the people of Kurashiki.

Greetings once again from the people of the city of Christchurch and we who represent our city, here, today. I spoke earlier about how it is the very human nature of the sister city links that provides sister cities relationships with such real power at a personal level.

As we enjoy your hospitality for this lunch we again show how it is in sharing these simple common experiences that we also deepen our real understanding of each other.

I was recently told that a small city such as Christchurch should not presume to voice an opinion on world affairs. I do not support this view at all. Christchurch is committed to being a peace city and a strong supporter of sister cities relationships.

It is the voice of the ordinary person, in the ordinary cities of the world that needs to be heard more often on the world stage.

The examples of cities such as ours, who had the courage to reach out across the barriers of distance, culture, language and

nationality when we did, are an example to everyone of genuine good will.

Kurashiki and Christchurch can both claim to have been pioneers in developing positive relationships with the rest of the world.

On this journey we have also learnt that similarities are more powerful than differences to people of good intent. It is also worth noting that even the history of the development of our two cities, in very different lands, and lengths of time, has been similar.

Christchurch has a mixed economy that comes from having feet in the old economy based on rural production, and also in what is called the new economy, in manufacturing and production that involves new technology such as electronics and computer software.

I understand that Kurashiki also has a similar mix of rural roots and robust new growth in industrial manufacturing.

As the second largest region for clothing production in Japan you may also be interested to know that our national museum

in Wellington has had an exhibition on the influence of Japanese clothing design on the global fashion industry.

This is a timely reminder of how distinctive features of our cultures are attracting attention and imitation world-wide.

This is a time where, in the face of so much change, the easy, fearful option is to turn one's back on the rest of the world and thereby spurn the chance to learn and to teach.

It is a time where the more demanding route is to embrace change, while also making sure we celebrate our differences and our points of similarity. This choice is the choice our two cities have long ago made. I believe it is the right choice to have made.

It is a choice we give substance to with a huge range of activities between our two cities. There are tourism, cultural and sporting visits; there are annual student exchanges, 22 in total between our cities, where the children are hosted in each others homes; there are jobs for our people as assistant English teachers in Kurashiki high schools; and there are pen-pal schemes and the many lasting friendships between our people that have developed over the years.

It’s a great range of activities that in total adds up to a record of building peace and understanding that both cities can be proud of. I hope other cities can learn better understanding and respect for each other, from how far we have come. Our two cities have led in this journey.