News Release
Thursday 22 November 2012

Australian sister city mayor and family holidaying in Rotorua

ROTORUA 22.11.12: The new mayor of Rotorua’s Australian sister city, Lake Macquarie, and her husband and children took time from their family holiday today [22 November] to stop by Mayor Kevin Winter’s office for a chat over lunch.

Lake Macquarie City Council mayor Jodie Harrison, husband Bruce and children India (13) and Phillip (9) are in New Zealand for a week, choosing to spend five nights in Rotorua on holiday. She said the family came to Rotorua because they were after something relaxing but also fun for the children.

“We’ve enjoyed luge rides, mud baths and soda springs, traditional Maori massage, and we’re now looking forward to visiting Rotorua Museum.

“Rotorua and Lake Macquarie have got a lot of similarities geographically, with our own lake right in the middle and mountains surrounding the city. But it feels like a real holiday here because Rotorua is much less developed around the edges and we don’t have the agricultural land that Rotorua has.”

Mrs Harrison, who has been mayor of Lake Macquarie City Council for just eight weeks, said the family had an informal discussion on lakes, tourism, and general matters with Mayor Winters – a comparatively veteran mayor of eight years.

“I thought that as Rotorua is our sister city it was important that, even though I’m on a family holiday, that I actually stop in and meet the mayor and take the opportunity to strengthen the relationship between Lake Macquarie and Rotorua.”

Rotorua mayor Kevin Winters said it was great to catch up with Mrs Harrison and her family and he looked forward to strengthening ties with Lake Macquarie in the future.

The Harrison family head back to Australia on Saturday.

[ENDS]

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