Visit to Auckland by the Mayor of Fukuoka City and the Fukuoka City Council Delegation (28-30 July 2026)
2026/8/10
To mark the 40th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Fukuoka City and Auckland, delegations from Fukuoka City and the Fukuoka City Council visited Auckland. The delegation was headed by Mr TAKASHIMA Soichiro, Mayor of Fukuoka City, and comprised Mr HIRAHATA Masahiro, Chairperson of the Fukuoka City Council, and Council Members Mr ABE Shinnosuke, Mr TSUDA Shintaro, Ms KONDO Satomi and Mr NIIMURA Masaru, among others.
On 28 July, Mayor TAKASHIMA, Chairperson HIRAHATA, and the City Council delegation and Consul-General MINOYA visited the Fukuoka Sister City Garden adjacent to Auckland Zoo. The delegation observed how the garden has been beautifully maintained through the dedicated efforts of Auckland Council, the Fukuoka Friendship Garden Group (FFGG) and other stakeholders, and how it is cherished by the local community as a place of relaxation and enjoymen,t and exchanged views with those involved. On the same day, Mayor TAKASHIMA, Chairperson HIRAHATA and Consul-General MINOYA held talks with Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown and Councillor Alf Filipaina, among others, and exchanged views on the further development of friendly relations between the two cities.
On 29 July, the Fukuoka City delegation, the Fukuoka City Council delegation and Consul-General MINOYA made a courtesy call on Auckland Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson and Councillor Bo Burns at Auckland Town Hall, where they received a warm welcome.
On the same evening, a reception was held at the Consul General's official residence, attended by representatives from Fukuoka City, the Fukuoka City Council delegation, Deputy Mayor Simpson, Councillors Filipaina, Burns and Watson from Auckland Council, Ms Alexandra Bonham from the Waitemata Local Board, and other representatives from Auckland, as well as members of the local Japanese community. On the same occasion, Fukuoka City presented letters of appreciation to members of the FFGG, including President Ms Stephanie Hay, in recognition of their invaluable contributions.
Dishes prepared by Chef KITAZONO featuring carefully selected ingredients from Fukuoka were served, allowing guests to savour the rich culinary culture of Fukuoka. An exhibition of Fukuoka products available in Auckland was also held at the event.
In his opening remarks, Consul-General MINOYA extended his sincere sympathies to those affected by the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake, which had struck on 28 July, and expressed his warm welcome for the visit, noting that it had opened a new chapter in the deepening of the friendly relations between the two cities.
On 30 July, the Fukuoka City delegation, the Fukuoka City Council delegation and Consul-General MINOYA visited GridAKL. A startup pitch event held at the venue concluded most successfully, thanks to the enthusiasm and commitment of all participants. The visit provided a valuable opportunity to reaffirm the significant potential for Fukuoka City and Auckland to collaborate and grow together in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship.
During the visit, Fukuoka City also concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Orewa College on a student exchange programme, among other initiatives aimed at further advancing the friendly relationship between the two cities.
It is noted that Mayor TAKASHIMA was required to return to Japan at short notice in response to the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake, which occurred during the visit. In his absence, the Fukuoka City Council delegation, led by Chairperson HIRAHATA, and the Fukuoka City delegation, carried out all remaining official engagements as scheduled, and accomplished exchanges befitting the 40th anniversary of the sister city relationship between the two cities.
The Consulate-General will continue to support efforts to further strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between Fukuoka City and Auckland.
On 28 July, Mayor TAKASHIMA, Chairperson HIRAHATA, and the City Council delegation and Consul-General MINOYA visited the Fukuoka Sister City Garden adjacent to Auckland Zoo. The delegation observed how the garden has been beautifully maintained through the dedicated efforts of Auckland Council, the Fukuoka Friendship Garden Group (FFGG) and other stakeholders, and how it is cherished by the local community as a place of relaxation and enjoymen,t and exchanged views with those involved. On the same day, Mayor TAKASHIMA, Chairperson HIRAHATA and Consul-General MINOYA held talks with Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown and Councillor Alf Filipaina, among others, and exchanged views on the further development of friendly relations between the two cities.
On 29 July, the Fukuoka City delegation, the Fukuoka City Council delegation and Consul-General MINOYA made a courtesy call on Auckland Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson and Councillor Bo Burns at Auckland Town Hall, where they received a warm welcome.
On the same evening, a reception was held at the Consul General's official residence, attended by representatives from Fukuoka City, the Fukuoka City Council delegation, Deputy Mayor Simpson, Councillors Filipaina, Burns and Watson from Auckland Council, Ms Alexandra Bonham from the Waitemata Local Board, and other representatives from Auckland, as well as members of the local Japanese community. On the same occasion, Fukuoka City presented letters of appreciation to members of the FFGG, including President Ms Stephanie Hay, in recognition of their invaluable contributions.
Dishes prepared by Chef KITAZONO featuring carefully selected ingredients from Fukuoka were served, allowing guests to savour the rich culinary culture of Fukuoka. An exhibition of Fukuoka products available in Auckland was also held at the event.
In his opening remarks, Consul-General MINOYA extended his sincere sympathies to those affected by the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake, which had struck on 28 July, and expressed his warm welcome for the visit, noting that it had opened a new chapter in the deepening of the friendly relations between the two cities.
On 30 July, the Fukuoka City delegation, the Fukuoka City Council delegation and Consul-General MINOYA visited GridAKL. A startup pitch event held at the venue concluded most successfully, thanks to the enthusiasm and commitment of all participants. The visit provided a valuable opportunity to reaffirm the significant potential for Fukuoka City and Auckland to collaborate and grow together in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship.
During the visit, Fukuoka City also concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Orewa College on a student exchange programme, among other initiatives aimed at further advancing the friendly relationship between the two cities.
It is noted that Mayor TAKASHIMA was required to return to Japan at short notice in response to the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake, which occurred during the visit. In his absence, the Fukuoka City Council delegation, led by Chairperson HIRAHATA, and the Fukuoka City delegation, carried out all remaining official engagements as scheduled, and accomplished exchanges befitting the 40th anniversary of the sister city relationship between the two cities.
The Consulate-General will continue to support efforts to further strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between Fukuoka City and Auckland.
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