Bonds between the Tasman District and our Netherlands friendly town partner have been strengthened after a visit from a delegation from Westerkwartier late last month.
Formal links between the two centres were reconfirmed in 2017 when a Friendly Town Agreement was signed between Tasman and Grootegast, which has now become part of the Westerkwartier Municipality.
Tasman District’s relationship with the Dutch area carries a special significance because the village of Lutjegast in the Municipality is where Abel Tasman was born.
The delegation included Mayor Ard van der Tuuk, his Assistant, Jochem Pennekamp and the former Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to New Zealand, Rob Zaagman.
The group covered a lot of ground during their relatively short trip here, including Golden Bay, where they were received with a pōwhiri at Onetahua Marae, viewed the Anaweka waka, and visited the Abel Tasman Monument and the Golden Bay Museum.
The delegation also spent time with several local businesses, visited the Waimea Community Dam and met with representatives of NMIT, Chamber of Commerce and Nelson Regional Development Agency, and included a tour of Cawthron Institute Aquaculture Centre.
The visitors also met with Elected Members and staff to discuss water management and civil defence.