Sister City Partnership Revitalized

A six-person delegation from Missoula's sister city Palmerston North in New Zealand visited Missoula from Monday, October 8th through Tuesday, October 16th. Mayor John Engen proclaimed October 13th through 15th 2018 as New Zealand Days. Palmerston North and Missoula have been sister cities since the early 1980's. The last delegation visit to the Garden City was in 2010, by a three-person delegation.

Global and Cultural Affairs in Arts Missoula oversees the sister city program for the city of Missoula and developed a diverse program for the international visitors. The 2018 delegation consisted of Mayor Grant Smith and his wife Michelle Smith, Wiremu and Trieste Te Awe Awe, a Māori chief and judge, Associate Professor Hone Morris from Massey University and Academic Coordinator for the Massey's School of Māori Knowledge and Toni Grace, International Relations Manager, overseeing Palmerston North's global city partnerships and diplomatic relations. "Our goal was to offer a balanced program that would allow the delegation to strengthen existing collaborations, but also introduce the members of the group to individuals and offices in Missoula, as well as Helena, so new connections could be made and future opportunities could be explored in the areas of research, business, trade and tourism", according to Dr. Udo Fluck, Director of Global and Cultural Affairs.

October 9th, was the first full day of meetings with Mayor Engen officially welcoming the delegation to Missoula, followed by a city tour facilitated by Linda McCarthy, Executive Director of the Downtown Missoula Partnership and a luncheon sponsored by the Missoula Downtown Association. The afternoon the delegation spent on the University of Montana campus, meeting with UM President Seth Bodnar, Provost and Executive Vice President Jon Harbor, Director of Global Engagement, Marja Unkuri-Chaudhry and Scott Whittenburg, Vice President for Research and Creative Scholarship. UM and Massey University have been partners for many years, supporting student exchanges between both institutions. UM Advocates provided a campus tour, before a welcome reception at the Payne Native American Center closed the first day of activities at UM. Additional highlights of the delegation visit will be featured in upcoming Arts Missoula online newsletters.

The Missoula Current newspaper published an article about the recent Sister City Delegation Visit. It is available here. https://www.missoulacurrent.com/business/2018/10/missoula-palmerston-north/ 

Arts Missoula has 25th Anniversary classic German Steins leftover from Germanfest. Steins run $20 each. If you are interested in purchasing a stein, please call our office at (406)-541-0860 or visit us at 327 E Broadway.