We were very pleased to support Marlborough District Council in welcoming Ai Momata and Nagisa Sato at MGC and Keita Ishikawa and Kenshiro Takemura at MBC, along with their teacher Akiko Okuyama from Tendo, Japan.

Blenheim has had a sister city agreement with Tendo City since 1989 and has been welcoming students from their different Junior High Schools.

Lizzie Gibbons and Bella Le Compte were excellent buddies for Nagisa and Ai during their short stay and they were able to experience several different classes as well as activities after school.

Our host families showed great hospitality to our Japanese students and enjoyed beautiful Pollard Park in all its Autumn splendour.

They enjoyed a celebratory dinner as well as trips organised by MDC to some of Marlborough’s finest attractions including a trip to Lochmara, Omaka Observatory, Te Paranui, Te Kahu o Waipuna, and Makana Confections.

Our kura shared manaakitanga, whanaungatanga and kotahitanga with our guests and we look forward to the next visit and the enrichment it brings for our students.