New Year’s Greeting Party (15 January 2026)
2026/1/16
On January 15th, the Consulate-General of Japan held a New Year's Greeting Reception at the Consul-General's official residence. We exchanged New Year's greetings with attendees from the Japanese Societies of Auckland and Hamilton, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Auckland (Nisuikai), the Japanese Business Club New Zealand, the Auckland Japanese Supplementary School and the Waitakere Japanese Supplementary School. Consulate-General Chef Kitazono prepared a selection of dishes for the menu, including a Kyoto-style Ozoni, adding a touch of Japanese flavour to the New Year's event.
At the outset, Consul General MATSUI expressed his sincere appreciation to all attendees for their continued and generous support of the Consulate-General’s activities. He acknowledged their contributions to strengthening relations between Japan and New Zealand based on the Strategic Cooperative Partnership, and their efforts with passion and the Japanese spirit to advance the Japanese community within Auckland’s diverse society. He also noted efforts to support the growth of children who will shape the future of both countries through education at the Japanese Supplementary Schools and other facilities, and also to promote the succession of Japanese culture, language, and values.
The Consul General stressed that the Consulate-General will spare no effort to support a wide range of Japanese business initiatives by Nisuikai members and other companies, including Japanese local subsidiaries as well as business owners promoting the Japanese culinary (Washoku) culture and engaging with other business connected to the local community. He concluded by sharing a New Year’s resolution that we would like to continue to support the promotion of person-to-person exchange through sister city relationships such as the one between Fukuoka and Auckland which welcomes their 40th anniversary this year, Japanese martial arts (Budo) and sports, art culture as well as activities of the Japanese Society of Auckland and other local connections.
Please follow this link to see the Consul General’s speech. (Japanese only)
At the outset, Consul General MATSUI expressed his sincere appreciation to all attendees for their continued and generous support of the Consulate-General’s activities. He acknowledged their contributions to strengthening relations between Japan and New Zealand based on the Strategic Cooperative Partnership, and their efforts with passion and the Japanese spirit to advance the Japanese community within Auckland’s diverse society. He also noted efforts to support the growth of children who will shape the future of both countries through education at the Japanese Supplementary Schools and other facilities, and also to promote the succession of Japanese culture, language, and values.
The Consul General stressed that the Consulate-General will spare no effort to support a wide range of Japanese business initiatives by Nisuikai members and other companies, including Japanese local subsidiaries as well as business owners promoting the Japanese culinary (Washoku) culture and engaging with other business connected to the local community. He concluded by sharing a New Year’s resolution that we would like to continue to support the promotion of person-to-person exchange through sister city relationships such as the one between Fukuoka and Auckland which welcomes their 40th anniversary this year, Japanese martial arts (Budo) and sports, art culture as well as activities of the Japanese Society of Auckland and other local connections.
Please follow this link to see the Consul General’s speech. (Japanese only)