A Brazilian and a New Zealander Share Eco Passion

Mayor Bob Harvey of Waitakere city, New Zeland, is to host the former Mayor of Curitiba, Brazil, one of the world’s leading cities. The immediate past Mayor of Curitiba, Mr Cassio Taniguchi, is visiting New Zealand en-route to an environmental conference in Australia.

Mr Harvey met Mr Taniguchi at the World Summit for Sustainable Development in 2002 in South Africa where they talked about their shared passions, environmental and urban solutions, and made presentations to the summit’s Eco-Efficient Cities meeting.


“Cassio and I agree that cities are the engines of countries so what we do at that level is vital.  Cassio and I learned a great deal from each other in 2002 and I am sure we will continue that learning experience,” says Mr Harvey.


“I am delighted Cassio and his family have taken the time on their trip to New Zealand to visit Waitakere, our wonderful beaches and our spectacular rain forest.  Our cities share the same issues so we are looking at similar solutions.”


Mr Taniguchi was the first Mayor of Curitiba to have an-eight year tenure and during his term of office presided over the Metropolitan Area Association of Municipalities (ASSOMEC), an organization that integrates 26 cities comprising the Greater Curitiba and overseeing a population of 2.7 million.


In his administration as Mayor, Mr Taniguchi promoted the implementation of Curitiba’s New Master Plan which forecasts urban and environmental sustainability, generating actions based on four strategic objectives: job and income generation, shared management (public-private partnership), metropolitan integration and social action.


Mr Taniguchi is now one of the representatives of UNITAR, United Nations for Training and Research (See www.cifalcuritiba.org.br/index_ing.htm).


Mr Harvey is escorting Mr Taniguchi and his family to the Arataki Visitors’ Centre on Scenic Drive in the Waitakere Ranges for a Maori welcome and blessing on Friday, January 21.


The event will be attended by Waitakere City Councillors, Auckland Regional Council Representatives, and local iwi.


Following his visit to New Zealand Mr Taniguchi is taking part in the ‘Eco-Edge’ Conference in Melbourne.


Waitakere City Council
www.waitakere.govt.nz

Tags:

You May Also Like

Brazilians Cheered by 4.8% Boost to Industrial Output

In Brazil and Latin American in general shares moved broadly higher today, July 6, ...

Lula Starts Close-to-US$-1-Trillion Plan to Be Carried out by Next President

The president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, announced Monday an US$ 886-billion ...

Lula or Cardoso? Who Should Get the Credit for a Better Brazil?

Ever since Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took office in 2003 this ...

The Trouble with Lula

The government’s major strategist, Duda Mendonça, is an extraordinary talent in political marketing, but ...

Francal Brazil, LatAm’s Largest Shoe Fair, Draws Buyers from Europe and Americas

Abicalçados, the Brazilian Association of Shoe Manufacturers, has invited 19 international companies to attend ...

Brazilian Commander Refuses to Accept that General Killed Himself in Haiti

The United Nations says suicide is the official cause of death for the Brazilian ...

After Brazil Complaint Britain Decides to Take Back 1,000 Tons of Toxic Trash

Brazil has announced that it will lodge a formal complaint with the World Trade ...

Jeers for Lula, Cheers for Chavez in Brazil

The fifth edition of the World Social Forum (WSF) ended today, January 31, in ...

Brazil’s Lula Wants Obama to Discuss US Military with Him and Colleagues

Fresh concerns over Colombian plans to grant US troops access to its military bases ...

Brazilian Activists Say State Assistencialism Is Not Enough to Save Indians

In response to the accusations made by the Indianist Missionary Council (Cimi) to the ...