PURPOSES: Ngāti Kahu and Shanghai CRED conduct an annual
cultural exchange and diplomatic mission to share our cultures, strengthen our
mutual understanding and friendship, explore commercial opportunities of benefit
to our peoples, progress in harmony.
This was our fourth
annual Mission and was once again
led by Ahorangi (Professor) Margaret Mutu (Te Whānau Moana/ Te Rorohuri) and me
(Patu Kōraha / Matarahurahu).
This year’s Ngāti Kahu Delegation included Ven Lloyd Popata
(Te Paatu / Pikaahu / Matakairiri), Tony Walden (Ngāti Tara / Te Whānau Moana),
DeeAnn Wolferstan (Patu Kōraha), Te Kani Williams (Ngāi Tuhoe / Te Aupōuri),
Anthony Housham (Patu Kōraha), Hazely Windleborn (Te Whānau Moana / Te Rorohuri
/ Matarahurahu) and Adrian White (Te Whānau Moana / Te Rorohuri). We were also joined by two Carrington
employees, William Harris and Alan Collinson, as well as William’s wife Hana.
DAY ONE: As we drive
100km north to Suzhou those of us who have been in Shanghai before notice big
changes since last year – less traffic, less people, significantly fewer slums
and more blue sky. We’re told this is
due to combined government efforts to increase the uptake of electric vehicles
and to redistribute the population to satellite cities within an hour’s commute
via Shanghai Metro
and the high speed Maglev
trains. It seems to be working.
Two hours later we arrive in Suzhou. This ancient city was
founded in 514 BC and has over 2,500 years of history. With high life
expectancy and per capita incomes, it’s comparable to a moderately developed
country.
Built on an ancient system of canals, it is often dubbed the
"Venice of the East" or "Venice of China", but I think it
should be the other way round, given that Venice was founded some 800 years
after Suzhou.
On arrival we tour the city's Classic Gardens which are
listed as UNESCO heritage sites. in
China, gardens are a way to commemorate and honour people who were loved and
respected. They were hammered under Mao Tse Tung and his successors, and many
of the oldest were completely destroyed. Often built on a zig zag pattern, they
take up relatively little space but give an impression of being huge.
In the afternoon we visit the First National Silk factory to
see how silk was made before the economic reforms. Nowadays it’s made in modern
factories, so this facility is largely a museum that captures and preserves
past practice. Dangerously for our
wallets, it’s also a shop.
That night we dine in a countryside restaurant where we are
joined by the Master and Diva of the Suzhou Opera. For us who tell our stories in moteatea, pao
and patere, even though we could not understand all the details of their
stories that they sang, the rangi was somehow familiar and lovely.
We end our day with a half hour walk into Zhouzhuang, where
no buses or heavy traffic are permitted and where we stay in a 900 year old
hotel.
To be continued.
