Delegates from the city of Atsugi in Japan spent four days in Dunedin to establish and enhance relations with Dunedin. Their visit involved meetings with Dunedin City Council officials and the Deputy Rector of King’s High School, Darryl Paterson along with the opportunity to watch the Highlanders and Chiefs match played at Forsyth Stadium. The manuhiri also spent time at Ōtākou Marae. Atsugi City has a population of 225,000 and is situated southwest of Tokyo — an hour by train. The city has been chosen as one of the host cities for the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Olympic Games.

The main emphasis of the trip was to create opportunities regarding business, tourism, education, sport and the opportunity to be welcomed onto Ōtākou Marae and meet He Waka Kōtuia – the King’s and Queen’s kapa haka who were in preparations for the biennial kapa haka nationals.

Tahu Potiki had the privilege of welcoming the group onto the marae on behalf of Ōtākou while He Waka Kōtuia gave them a fabulous sneak preview of their poi called Hakūiao. Deputy Mayor Shimojima took up the challenge of learning the poi from Tamika Cherrington.

From left to right: Tahu Potiki, Misao Hook (interpepreter),Chihiro Tanaka, desiree Pereira, Junichiro Morishita, Hiromi Shimojima, Tomojo Mikami.

From left to right: Tahu Potiki, Misao Hook (interpepreter),Chihiro Tanaka, desiree Pereira, Junichiro Morishita, Hiromi Shimojima, Tomojo Mikami.

Deputy Mayor Shimojma and Tamika Cherrington.

Deputy Mayor Shimojma and Tamika Cherrington.