Lately, Tory Whanau has been elected and inaugurated as Mayor of Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, with a term of office ending in 2025.

In addition to being the first Māori mayor of Wellington, Tory Whanau was also the first mayoral race winner without experience as a city councilor in 27 years. She once attended New Plymouth Girls' High School and later became a holder of a Bachelor Degree of Arts in Media Studies from Victoria University of Wellington, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business and Administration from Massey University. She has worked for the New Zealand Film Commission, AXA New Zealand, Superannuation Provider in Australia, and Signa Insurance. She worked as the Chief of Staff for the Green Party prior to taking office as the mayor.

Wellington, the capital and the financial, shipping and industrial hub of New Zealand, was twinned with Beijing in May 2006. Since then, the two cities have carried out pragmatic and wide-ranging cooperation and exchanges in the fields of economy, trade, culture, tourism, education, sports, etc.

(Photo source: Wellington City Council official website)