Our international partnerships

We engage with our international partners through:

• formal sister city relationships
• time-bound strategic alliances
• participation in international city networks and forums.

Our relationships

The Tripartite Economic Alliance is an agreement between Auckland,  Guangzhou and Los Angeles that focuses on trade, investment and civic participation.

C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group is a network of 97 global cities committed to fighting climate change and creating a healthier, more sustainable future.  See International commitments for more information on multinational climate change agreements.

Our global partner cities and countries

Asia-Pacific

Brisbane, Australia

Brisbane and Auckland councils are the largest local governing bodies in Australasia. 2021 marks 33 years of partnership between the two cities. Our relationship has a strong emphasis on economic activity and growth management, including active collaboration on trade, investment, housing, urban development and infrastructure.

Brisbane City Council

Guangzhou, China

Guangzhou is a leading commercial city and a major South China sea port. In 2019, Auckland and Guangzhou celebrated the 30th anniversary of the partner city relationship – Auckland's longest-standing and most successful sub-national partnership in China. The Tripartite Economic Alliance has strengthened our relationship. This alliance has resulted in:

• increased trilateral business
• more cultural engagement
• dialogues around climate change and emergency preparedness.

​Government of Guangzhou

Ningbo, China

Ningbo has been an important trade city for at least 2000 years. The port of Ningbo is the second largest in China and the sixth largest in the world. Our partnership was forged in 1998 and re-confirmed in 2012. Education cooperation has been a key feature of the partner city relationship. The Ningbo-Auckland Educational Association was established in 2013 and holds annual conferences for students and educators from the two cities.

Our partnership also promotes best practice exchange in civic, port development and cultural engagement.

Qingdao, China

Qingdao is a major coastal city of eastern China and is known as the Chinese Sailing City. The city shares its keen interest in sailing, sports and tourism with Auckland.

The partner city relationship between Qingdao and Auckland was signed in 2008. The film industry is the key focus of our partnership with Qingdao.

More recently, there has been growing interest and cooperation in education with annual New Zealand-China Youth Leadership Summits, partly sponsored by Qingdao Education Bureau, and Qingdao Foreign Affairs Office.

Government of Qingdao

​Shanghai, China

Shanghai is China's largest cosmopolitan and most international city. Auckland and Shanghai signed a Letter of Intent of Friendly Cooperation in 2012, during an Auckland mayoral mission to China. The two cities have agreed to cooperate in these areas:

• high-level governmental visits
• environment protection
• city development.

Shanghai and Dunedin have been enjoying a formal and strong sister-city relationship since 1994.  

Shanghai Municipal Government  

​Cook Islands

The Cook Islands' Memorandum of Cooperation with Auckland was re-signed in 2012 during the Auckland mayoral-led trade mission to the Pacific.

We made a commitment to provide technical advice around governance and infrastructure. 

We will also share and exchange knowledge, experience, and cultural understanding with the Cook Islands.

​About Cook Islands

Nadi, Fiji

In 2006, the legacy North Shore Council signed an agreement with Nadi Town Council.   

Our relationship focuses on:

• cooperation around human resources
• help with infrastructure equipment and machinery
• participation in seminars
• the development of public amenities.

 Nadi Town Council 

​Samoa

Samoa's Memorandum of Cooperation with Auckland was re-signed during the Auckland mayoral-led trade mission in 2012.

Recent activity includes technical assistance funded under the PacificTA  for the planning development of the Apia waterfront and a dog control management programme.

Government of Samoa

Tonga

Auckland's relationship with the Kingdom of Tonga was established with a Memorandum of Cooperation in 2012.

The bilateral relationship includes a commitment from Auckland to provide technical advice in governance and infrastructure development.

Tonga and Auckland exchange knowledge, experience, and cultural understanding. Activities to date have focused on urban planning, governance and major-event planning and implementation.

​Government of the Kingdom of Tonga

Fukuoka, Japan

The Auckland-Fukuoka sister city agreement was signed in 1986 to encourage cultural understanding and to promote connectivity in education, culture, tourism and trade.

The current focus of the relationship is on collaboration on innovative business.

See Startup Fukuoka for information about 'the fastest growing startup hub in Japan and best practice.

Due to our partner city relationship with Fukuoka, Auckland is annually invited to attend the Asian Pacific Children's Convention (APCC) in Fukuoka. Each year, six 11-year olds are selected to represent Auckland, joining over 200 'Junior Ambassadors' from over 33 nations.

The convention aims to nurture understanding and respect, thereby equipping our future community leaders.

The re-established Fukuoka Friendship Garden in Western Springs Lakeside Park opened in July 2017. 

City of Fukuoka    

​Kakogawa, Japan

The Auckland-Kakogawa sister city relationship was formalised in 1992, and both cities celebrated the 25th anniversary of the partnership in 2017. Our engagement with Kakogawa City includes the award-winning Kakogawa students with special needs programme, which Auckland has been facilitating since 1993.

Kakogawa

Shinagawa, Japan

Our friendship city agreement with Shinagawa Ward in Tokyo was signed in 1993.

Our relationship began in 1989, when Mt Roskill Borough Council and Shinagawa established a friendship communiqué.

Our connection is still strong, with ongoing teacher and student exchanges between Shinagawa's public high schools and Lynfield College.

Shinagawa

Tomioka, Japan

The Auckland-Tomioka friendship was originally established in 1983 between One Tree Hill Borough Council and Tomioka.

Tomioka was severely affected by the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in 2011 and the town evacuated due to its proximity to the Fukushima power plant.

Tomioka officially reopened in April 2017.

Tomioka

Utsunomiya, Japan

Forged in 1982, Auckland's sister city relationship with Utsunomiya is one of the longest-running in New Zealand.

The friendship has been strengthened through numerous civic and education exchanges, allowing residents of both cities to share and appreciate each other's culture.

Utsunomiya

Busan, South Korea

Busan, South Korea's second most populous city, has a thriving film sector, and annually hosts the Busan International Film Festival which attracts over 200,000 spectators and industry representatives.

Our sister city relationship, signed in 1996, encourages cooperation and best practice exchange in film, trade, marine industry, culture and tourism.

2021 marks the 25th anniversary of the sister city relationship.

Busan

Pohang, South Korea

The Pohang-Auckland Friendship City agreement, signed in 2008, aims to facilitate exchange and co-operation in science, technology, economy, trade and environment.

Pohang is home of the headquarters of POSCO, the world's fourth-largest steelmaker.

Taichung, Taiwan

The Auckland-Taichung Sister City agreement was signed in 1996.

2021 marks the 25th anniversary of this partnership.

The relationship focuses on cooperation in culture, education, trade and science and technology.

We also work with Taichung in city planning and enhancing indigenous cooperation.

Taichung

America

Los Angeles

Following informal engagement in 1971 coinciding with Air New Zealand's inaugural service to Los Angeles, the Auckland-Los Angeles sister city relationship was officially signed in 1972.

Since then we have partnered to drive tourism and investment, trade, education, sport, culture and community initiatives.

The relationship was strengthened in 2014 with the launch of the Tripartite Economic Alliance. This alliance has resulted in increased trilateral business activity and, more recently, conversations around climate change and emergency preparedness.

City of Los Angeles

Europe

Galway, Ireland

Galway City Council and the legacy Waitakere City Council (now part of Auckland Council) signed a Friendship Agreement in 2002.

Both are coastal cities that share a keen interest in sailing and are regular hosts of the Volvo Ocean Race.

Galway had the honour of being the finishing port and closing ceremony location for the race in 2008-2009 and 2011-2012.

Galway was named the European Capital of Culture in 2020.

Galway City Council