Edinburgh Sister City
Dunedin's relationship with Edinburgh has obvious historical links, not least the 1843 decision to name the New Zealand Company's new Scottish settlement Dunedin, the Gaelic form of Edinburgh.
A link formalised
The first movement towards creating an official link with Dunedin's historical 'sister' was in February 1973, when the Scottish Export Committee of Dunedin's Scottish Council recommended that a 'twinning' relationship with Edinburgh be formalised. Their letter to the DCC suggested that, not only was it appropriate for a "city of pipe bands and many other manifestations of Scottish heritage" to have a relationship with the Scottish capital, but there would also be commercial and industrial opportunities.
The DCC resolved in early 1973 to support the link with Edinburgh, and an invitation was sent to the Lord Provost of Edinburgh. A formal resolution confirming the establishment of an official sister city relationship was exchanged on 1 July 1974, with a copy of the formal resolution presented to the Lord Provost in Edinburgh by Cr M Joel on 25 July 1974.
There were few official activities between the cities during the early years of the relationship. In 2004, former Dunedin Mayor Sukhi Turner coordinated the establishment of the Dunedin - Edinburgh Sister City to revitalise Dunedin's relationship with Edinburgh. Between 2003 and 2005, Dunedin supported a number of cultural exchanges between Dunedin and Edinburgh associated with the Fringe and Edinburgh Festival.
Dunedin delegation visits Edinburgh
In August 2006, an official delegation, including Mayor Peter Chin, DCC Chief Executive, Jim Harland, and members of the Dunedin-Edinburgh Sister City Society travelled to Edinburgh to attend the opening weekend of the 2006 Edinburgh Festival.
During the round of official functions and meetings, opportunities were taken by all parties to foster a number of links between the two cities. Those present from the Society included the Chair, Pamela Jemmett, Secretary, Neville Jemmett and committee members, Margaret Campbell and Les Cantwell.
The delegation visited the Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop to view the Sylvia Stewart sculpture which was duly gifted to Dunedin City. The sculpture, which matches one installed on the Edinburgh Waterfront, arrived in Dunedin in July 2007. It is currently in storage awaiting a visit of the Lord Provost of Edinburgh to complete an official unveiling.
Since then, the Society has been working to increase opportunities for developing further connections between our two cities through an exchange programme, and to encourage youth involvement, particularly through internet and email exchanges between primary school children in both cities.
Last reviewed: 20 Jul 2009 12:16pm
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