States » NorthPosted at: Oct 19 2026 7:49PM


Chandigarh, New Zealand's Rotorua explore sister-city ties to boost tourism, urban development

Chandigarh, Oct 19 (UNI) - Chandigarh and New Zealand's Rotorua are exploring a partnership to strengthen cooperation in tourism, cultural exchanges, environmental sustainability and urban development, with a New Zealand delegation meeting senior civic officials here on Monday.
The two-member delegation, comprising Dr Pim Borren, Chief Executive, and Paramdip Singh, Director of Special Projects at New Zealand's Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, held discussions with Chandigarh Mayor Saurabh Joshi and Municipal Corporation Commissioner Amit Kumar.
The talks focused on establishing friendly relations between the two cities and identifying opportunities for collaboration in civic administration, innovation, sustainable development and the exchange of best practices.
Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell, in a communication to Joshi, expressed interest in developing closer institutional ties between the two cities, highlighting their distinctive cultural identities and shared commitment to sustainability.
Describing Rotorua as a district known for its geothermal landscapes, Māori heritage and tourism industry, Tapsell emphasised the importance of building "meaningful and manageable partnerships" that deliver mutual benefits.
She also invited the Chandigarh Mayor to visit Rotorua to explore opportunities for cooperation.
Welcoming the proposal, Joshi said international partnerships could help cities address emerging urban challenges through knowledge sharing and innovative civic practices.
He stressed the importance of cooperation in sustainable urban development, cultural understanding and identifying practical initiatives that could benefit residents.
Officials said the discussions also covered potential collaboration in environmental management, tourism promotion and institutional exchanges.
The proposed partnership remains at an exploratory stage, with both sides seeking to identify specific areas for future engagement.
The initiative could pave the way for closer cooperation between Chandigarh and Rotorua in urban governance, sustainability and cultural exchanges.
UNI NB AAB
Tags: #Chandigarh# New Zealand's Rotorua explore sister-city ties to boost tourism# urban development
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