Mia Mackay spent several days hobnobbing with dignitaries in Japan so putting on the Waipā mayoralty chains was nothing out of the ordinary for the Cambridge toddler.
Mia Mackay with the mayoral chains on after her mother Alana presented a small tapestry type artwork Bihoro gifted to Cambridge which was accepted by Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan, left, and community board chair Jo Davies-Colley. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
The 22-month-old daughter of community board member Alana Mackay helped present a small tapestry type artwork on behalf of Bihoro – Cambridge’s sister city – to mayor Susan O’Regan at the weekend.
She was part of the Waipā delegation which visited Japan last month led by her mother. The self-funded trip included Alisha Robinson, Robyn Maxwell and Cambridge High School principal Greg Thornton.
In Japan, Mia Mackay, 22 months, had her own name plate and gift bag from mayor Koji Hirano when she visited the Bihoro council. Photo: Supplied.
Also there at their own cost were deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk, Cr Philip Coles and Andrew Myers.
O’Regan said the sister city relationships with Bihoro and Le Quesnoy sat under Cambridge Community Board. Global Cities New Zealand – which promotes the relationships as a way of connecting people for peace and prosperity – will hold its regional forum in Cambridge next month at Lake Karāpiro.
“There is certainly a lot of positivity through the country around those relationships, but they have to be sustained,” she said.
The relationships in the past may have been set up using ratepayer funds but they were not now, said O’Regan.
Waipa deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk and Bihoro mayor Koji Hirano
Mackay said the trip was special. It was her first trip to Bihoro.
“There was a real youth focus to the trip. They understand the value of bringing in younger people to continue the relationship.”
They met some of the students who had been to Cambridge on scholarships.
Mayor Koji Hirano presenting Mia with a welcome gift. She took the bag everywhere with her while she was there.
Mia enjoyed using Japanese buses and trains and is already a public transport fan.
Robyn is the widow of Murray Maxwell, who worked for Waipā District Council for many years and was instrumental in establishing the sister city relationship with Bihoro in 1997. Robyn has been involved over the decades, maintaining friendships and hosting guests from Bihoro on the family property.
Alisha is Robyn and Murray’s daughter and is passionate about continuing the relationship with Bihoro. A town planner with Beca, Alisha was interested in how the effects of agricultural practices on the environment are managed in Bihoro, compared to New Zealand.
The delegation visited Bihoro Pass, a mountain pass overlooking Lake Kussharo, Japan’s largest crater lake, the Bihoro Town Office, other community facilities, the Murray Maxwell Memorial, schools, and the Yamanaka Dairy Farm. They also attended a cultural event and formal dinner and stayed in homestay accommodation provided in Bihoro as part of the sister city relationship.
The Waipa delegation in Bihoro.
The only council cost was a gift made by Waipā artist Saoirse Herewini which incorporated the sister city themes of friendship, education and agriculture and had a distinct Cambridge flavour, with local stories and symbolism.
Bihoro is an agricultural town of around 20,000 people on the northern end of Japan’s Hokkaido Island. The sister city relationship agreement between Waipā District Council and Bihoro was signed in 1997.
A Bihoro delegation is expected to revisit Cambridge in February 2026 with a focus on rural education as it is a strong farming area.
“One of their schools runs an agricultural programme alongside their usual curriculum so a big interest for them and we’re looking at maybe working with a local farming group to try and tie that in with Cambridge High School exchanges,” said Mackay.
“Watch this space.”
The tapestry art, a gift from Bihoro to Cambridge is presented by community board member Alana Mackay, centre left, to mayor Susan O’Regan. Others, from left, are: Robyn Maxwell, Andrew Myers, Jo Davies-Colley and Philip Coles. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
