Spanish visit

Press, 28 August 1984, Page 5

Spanish visit

By

STAN DARLING

You could almost hear castanets and the staccato tapping of flamenco dancers’ heels outside the Mayor’s office in Christchurch yesterday. A good-will delegation from Catalonia — Catalunya in the province’s mother tongue — had dropped by to deliver a heavy bronze plaque to the City Council. In a meeting with the Mayor, Sir Hamish Hay, Spanish, the mother language Catalan, and English were bandied about with some dexterity. The occasion? It seems the city of Barcelona, Spain’s second largest and the provincial capital, has discovered it is the antipode of Christchurch. City officials there decided to capitalise on the similarity of latitudes. Barcelona is 41.25 degrees

North, and Christchurch is 43.33 degrees South. In parts of the northern hemisphere, people talk about digging a hole deep enough to reach China. Starting in Christchurch, that much digging would take you to Spain. So the plaque’s inscription says, in three languages: “Digging through the centre of Earth from this point, we should reach Catalunya.” Perhaps one day the two cities could become sisters, said Mr Bartholomew Porta, the honorary Spanish vice-consul for the South Island. Yesterday’s quick visit might be the start of stronger ties, but Sir Hamish said that Christchurch is proceeding cautiously in the addition of new sister links. It already has five. Never mind, the delegation was certain that the

visit would lead to better understanding and friendship between Canterbury and Catalonia. New Zealand will be promoted in Spain as a good place to come, off the beaten track, when the traditional holiday spots get too familiar. “They come all the way from Barcelona only to present this plaque,” said Mr Porta. The delegation arrived on Sunday and is going home today, via Sydney and Alice Springs, which will also be promoted through a television tape being made of the trip. Leading the delegation was Mr Jose M. Boter, representing the Generalitat of Catalonia. Mr Alberto Übeda, executive director of the Auckland-based Land Mark Travel (South Pacific), Ltd,

also made the trip to Christchurch. Mr Übeda said an important part of the visit was to study the scope for developing New Zealand as a tourist destination. The plaque includes the names of 11 Spanish companies which helped sponsor Sir Hamish said the council would find a suitable site for the plaque. He emphasised to the delegation that it would be “quite some time” before the City Council would even consider any new sister links. "We have got to do justice to those we have,” he said. There was not a large Spanish population in the Christchurch area, and no substantial trade links with Spain. “But we would look forward to being closer friends,” said Sir Hamish.