Tauranga & Hitachi: A Sister City Partnership
A Legacy of Cultural Exchange
The Sister City relationship between Tauranga City (New Zealand) and Hitachi City (Japan) was officially established on 18 April 1988, following a series of successful student and civic exchanges. Over the past three decades, this relationship has blossomed into a vibrant cultural and educational partnership, enriched through formal visits, youth programmes, and grassroots community connections.
Social and civic organisations—including Rotary Clubs, Girl Guides, and other business and community networks—have built strong, enduring ties across the two cities, further deepening the spirit of international friendship.
As part of this ongoing exchange, official delegations alternate visits every third year. The most recent visit took place in April 2024, when representatives from Tauranga City Council, Creative Bay of Plenty, Priority One, and Education Tauranga travelled to Hitachi City to strengthen collaboration and reaffirm the sister city bond.
NZ Study Tours & the Japan Cultural Experience
Since 2002, NZ Study Tours (formerly Let’s Homestay) has been a key facilitator of student exchanges, welcoming dozens of students from Hitachi into local Tauranga homes. These homestays provide a grassroots cultural immersion, building friendships, mutual understanding, and lasting memories.
In 2018, the relationship evolved further with the launch of the Japan Cultural Experience — a reciprocal programme enabling Tauranga-based students to travel to Hitachi City, where they live with Japanese host families and engage in a carefully curated programme of cultural and educational experiences.
Through a trusted and long-standing partnership with the Hitachi City Office, the programme offers seamless coordination and a warm welcome for all participants. Host families are thoughtfully selected, and the itinerary is designed to offer genuine insight into Japanese life, values, and hospitality.
Building Global Citizens
Delivered as part of Tauranga’s Sister City activities, the programme is more than just a trip — it’s a powerful platform for fostering global citizenship, cross-cultural understanding, and youth leadership.
By stepping into a new culture and forming personal connections abroad, students broaden their horizons, develop resilience and empathy, and build international friendships that can last a lifetime.
Hitachi City
The City of Hitachi is located in the northeast of Ibaraki prefecture just north of the Kanto plain, Honshu, Japan. It has a mild climate and it is situated on the coast it is surrounded by natural beauty with a backdrop of mountains and boasting some superb views of the Pacific Ocean.
Hitachi has developed into a manufacturing city from an industrial heritage in mining and electronics, and now plays a leading role in these fields. Hitachi is also a city blessed with many sites of cultural significance. There are also many sightseeing spots such as Kamine Park, Okuhitachi-kirara-no-sato and the six beaches stretching along the Hitachi coastline. This attractive and lively city attracts many visitors from all over Japan as well as those from abroad.