Catherine O'Connell attends event with Japanese Foreign Minister’s spouse

In June, Catherine joined Misako Kitaoka of Education New Zealand to host Mrs Iwaya, wife of Japan’s Foreign Minister, and her delegation from Oita Prefecture.

They shared stories of New Zealand’s cultural and sporting ties with Japan, from the 2019 Rugby World Cup to sister-city relationships. Catherine spoke in Japanese about her own experiences in Beppu, from moderating a plenary session on NZ–Japan business relations to enjoying local delicacies. It was a reminder of how personal stories can strengthen diplomatic and cultural bonds. The group were inspired upon hearing Catherine was the first Kiwi to set up a law practice in Tokyo and Ms. Kitaoka relayed to the group Catherine’s board roles with two of Japan’s blue-chip companies, Fujitsu and Toyota.