For those who have visited a Chinese garden, there is something immediately beautiful and restful about it. Unlike European gardens, they are orderly and quiet with a close attention to nature in the form of water, rocks and plants. So it is not surprising that a number of Chinese gardens have been established in New Zealand cities courtesy of each city’s sister in China.
Many people will have enjoyed the Chinese garden created in New Plymouth in 2003 by her sister city, Kunming, capital of Yunnan province, and recently the Taranaki city determined to break with tradition, returning the compliment by planting a New Zealand garden, including a number of Kauri tree saplings, in Yunnan Province as a gesture of friendship with their sister-city.
This has been taken as a great sign of respect by the citizens of Kunming and will certainly further improve the maturing relationship between the two cities. As a result, the gesture will lead to a higher profile for New Plymouth and encourage trade and an influx of students and visitors to the district. It has been observed by some that it would only take roughly 4 to 5 Chinese students to choose a New Zealand education in NP for their investment in the garden to be returned in full.
Recently, NZCFS has noticed an increased interest from Yunnan province in the form of requests to receive delegations from there and, with a population of 46 million, Yunnan is potentially a significant market for both trade and Chinese students coming to NZ.
The 27 giant Kauri are believed to be the first ever of this NZ native to be planted in China and, if their long life is symbolic of eternal friendship, the bonds between New Plymouth and Kunming should be strong for generations to come. The kauris can grow to 50 metres high with a girth of up to 16 metres, living for more than 2000 years.
New Plymouth’s International Relations Working Party chairman, Lynn Bublitz, said the plants were chosen carefully and included Kowhais and Pohutukawas in addition to the Kauris. The red colour of the pohutukawas is particularly important for a Chinese garden. The bright yellow flower of the Kowhai, which is New Zealand’s national flower, is also important in the garden, said Bublitz. “We wanted something long-lived that was a symbol of New Zealand and these three plants are typical of our country.”
Though the Kiwi garden is not completely finished yet, the New Plymouth council has budgeted $90,000, something that was questioned by local critics, but the sum is dwarfed by the $300,000 which Kunming spent on the New Plymouth garden. NZCFS National President, Dave Bromwich said the investment in the Kiwi garden in Kunming would contribute to long-lasting economic benefits for New Plymouth.
New Plymouth Sister Cities’ press release has been quoted by Xinhua News Agency: “New Zealand city looks to returns on friendly ties with China’s Kunming” http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2013-07/30/c_132586170.htm
People’s Daily, China Daily, the Chinese Government website, and the China News Service, took up the same story.
Balita (Philippine News Agency) headed the same story with “New Zealand city revitalizes friendly ties with China’s Kunming”: http://balita.ph/2013/07/30/feature-new-zealand-city-revitalizes-friendly-ties-with-chinas-kunming/
