Wellington Sakai Association

ウェリントン堺協会

The Wellington Sakai Association (WSA) is a group of Wellington residents who work alongside Wellington City Council to foster and strengthen social, cultural and sporting relationships between the people of Wellington and Sakai City, Japan.

Wellington and Sakai have enjoyed a close sister-city relationship since 1994, providing opportunities for people of all ages to learn about each other’s cultures, traditions and communities. Through our activities, we aim to promote friendship, understanding and lasting connections between the two cities.

The two cities have a wide variety of exchanges, including the Wellington–Sakai Children’s Art Exhibition, tea ceremony demonstrations, Japanese cultural activities, sports exchanges, community events and visits between Wellington and Sakai. These activities provide opportunities for people to experience Japanese culture, share their own traditions and build friendships across borders.

The Wellington Sakai Association is run by volunteers who are passionate about strengthening the relationship between our two cities. We welcome anyone who is interested in Japan, Sakai, cultural exchange or simply making new connections within the community.

We look forward to welcoming you and helping build the friendship between Wellington and Sakai for generations to come.

Our Projects

Meet Honeywa

HONEYWA is the "yuru-kyara", or mascot character, of the Wellington Sakai Association, representing the strong connection and relationship between the cities of Wellington and Sakai.

HONEYWA is a combination of a HANIWA, a traditional burial figure in Japan that is found in the burial mounds of Japan, especially in Sakai, and the Beehive here in Wellington! Because she's from the beehive, she's got HONEY! And the WA in her name is the Japanese word for PEACE! Of course, she's in the shape of a HANIWA, too!