Sister City Love
Dunedin Mayor Cull is calling it one of the more moving gestures at a time when the international community is responding to two major disasters - the earthquakes in Christchurch and Japan.
“I have today received a letter from Katsumaro Yamada, Mayor of Dunedin’s Japanese sister city Otaru, containing a donation from the people of Otaru to help those affected by the Christchurch ‘quake.
“Their extraordinary gesture came after Otaru’s southern neighbours were devastated by their own earthquakes, the tsunami which swept away whole communities and the horror of the failure of several nuclear reactors in its wake.
“Such generosity of spirit leaves me speechless,” said Mayor Cull.
The letter from Mayor Yamada asks Dunedin, because of its strong sister city link with Otaru, to pass on the cheque to Christchurch Mayor, Bob Parker.
Mayor Cull says Dunedin has responded by making its own donation of $10,000 to the Japan earthquake relief fund. “I have written to Mayor Yamada thanking him, letting him know how much Japanese efforts to help Christchurch with practical offers of assistance were appreciated, and asking him to ensure Dunedin’s modest contribution goes to where it will be most effective.”
A small Dunedin contingent visited Otaru on an official sister city visit in mid 2010 while a larger delegation from Otaru came to Dunedin late last year.