In 1983, Upper Hutt, New Zealand was added as our second Sister City, in part because our neighboring city, Tempe, is a Sister City to Lower Hutt, which borders Upper Hutt. This city of 40,000 residents is part of the Wellington metropolitan region of New Zealand. In 1988 the Mayor and Chief Executive of Upper Hutt visited Mesa and met with Mesa Mayor Peggy Rubach. Letters and gifts have been exchanged between the two communities as citizens have visited over the years.
Fourteen members of Mesa Sister Cities visited Upper Hutt in November 2006. Many meetings were held and discussions ranged from Education and Cultural Exchange to local Business interests. We met many of the local residents in informal settings, made friends, toured city sites, played golf, and generally learned as much as possible about the people and the geography. New Zealand is stunning! If you are interested in becoming involved with Upper Hutt or New Zealand activities, please contact Jack Sellers at 480-786-1133.
