North Shore City Media release

June 03, 2008

North Shore signs agreement with Chile to promote women’s football

North Shore City this morning took a step further towards New Zealand’s warm relationship with Chile.

North Shore Mayor, Andrew Williams signed an agreement with Chilean Mayor Senor Pablo Zalaquett from La Florida to promote mutual understanding of women’s football in both New Zealand and Chile.

The two countries are hosting FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments this year – New Zealand at an Under 17 level in October and November and Chile at an Under 20 level in November and December.

Mayor Andrew Williams hopes the agreement will act as a catalyst for the further growth of women’s football in New Zealand

“Women’s football is already the largest growing sport in North America and here in New Zealand there are 35,000 women registered to play, says Mayor Williams.

“Under this agreement the two countries will support each other’s football initiatives including exchanges, fixture swaps and learning from each other.

“An example of a win-win for the two countries’ sporting prowess would be exchanges – for instance we could learn more about football and the Chileans could learn from us more about rugby,” said Mayor Williams.

This morning’s signatories to the agreement were the last of eight mayors to sign. The New Zealand mayors of Wellington, Hamilton and Christchurch also signed as well as the Chilean mayors of Coquimbo, Chillan and Temuco.

North Shore will host the final and runners up final of the World Cup competition as well as the Pool A round of the tournament. Pool A will see New Zealand playing Denmark and Colombia and then another North American team likely to be either USA, Canada or Mexico.

At this morning’s media conference Mayor Zalaquett from La Florida in Santiago said he believed the New Zealand competition would be a huge success after viewing the facilities and meeting those involved.

He said he would like to see the FIFA legacy live on in New Zealand after the tournament.

Mayor Williams commented that he would like to see the two countries do more together.

“Sport is a door opener and we would like to see our young people learn more from the Chileans, and vice versa.”

Mayor Williams says New Zealand already has close relations with Chile in terms of trade.

“Chile is a member of the Trans-pacific Strategic Economic Partnership between New Zealand, Chile, Singapore and Brunei and has a free trade deal with China and New Zealand’s Fonterra Co-operative owns 99.4 per cent of Soprole, Chile’s leading dairy company, said Mayor Williams.

ENDS

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