Mayor heads largest Dunedin delegation to Shanghai

Mayor Barker says the trip is an exciting opportunity to build on Dunedin’s relationship with the economic powerhouse of Shanghai, particularly for tourism and other business representatives joining the delegation.

“This trip will underscore our economic as well as our cultural ties to one of the world’s largest and most influential cities – home to more than 24 million people – and reinforce Dunedin’s position as the exemplar of sister cities to Shanghai.

“We have a shared history that dates back to the earliest days of Ōtepoti Dunedin and is constantly being refreshed and reinvigorated – look no further than our beautiful Lan Yuan Dunedin Chinese Garden, or the thousands of Chinese tourists enjoying visits to our city each and every year.

“One delightful aspect of the visit will be the opportunity to present a book titled Our Dunedin to the Mayor of Shanghai and representatives of the Shanghai Education Commission. Created by the Year 4/5 class at Columba College, the book celebrates Dunedin through the eyes of its young people, showcasing the places they love and the qualities that make our city such a special place to call home.”

The 22-strong Dunedin delegation will be headed by Ms Barker, who will be joined by University of Otago representatives including Vice-Chancellor Grant Robertson.

“While in China we plan to visit a number of our partner universities, as well as hold alumni events in Shanghai and Beijing and use the visit to strengthen the close relationships we have developed with our partners over many years.”

Also making the trip will be Otago Polytechnic Chief Executive Andrew McSweeney, Business South Chair Dominique Dowding and Chief Executive Mike Collins, and Otago Dental School Dean Paul Cooper.

In addition, representatives from Columba College, the Otago Peninsula Trust, Larnach Castle, Distinction Dunedin Hotel, Dunedin Railways, Dunedin Chinese Garden Trust and Dunedin Shanghai Association will also travel to China.

The delegation will depart Dunedin on 17 October 2026 and return on 24 October, and features an itinerary full of key meetings, events and the signing of significant Memorandums of Understanding between parties from Dunedin and Shanghai.

Ms Barker says Dunedin’s delegation is the largest and most diverse to visit Shanghai since the signing of the two cities’ Sister Cities Agreement in 1994.

“This reflects a deliberate attempt to encourage more Dunedin organisations and groups to engage with Shanghai, given our longstanding ties and the enormous economic, cultural and social benefits on offer.

“As Chinese visitor numbers continue to rebound following the Covid-19 pandemic, I’m pleased to see our delegation will include a number of tourism operators keen to cement new ties with one of our largest visitor markets.”

The delegation will also be bolstered by further Dunedin representatives based in China, who will follow the Mayoral delegation.

The trip will be self-funded by each of the parties travelling to Shanghai.

Still didn't find what you were looking for?