Mayor Chu meets with Mayor of Auckland, New Zealand
Mayor Chu today met with Mayor Len Brown of Auckland, New Zealand and his delegate team. The two mayors exchange ideas and experience on various administration issues such as environmental protection, transportation, and city renewal.
Both mayors were pleased to see each other again. In return for Mayor Brown’s reception when he visited Auckland in January, Mayor Chu gave his warmest welcome to Mayor Brown and his delegate team. Mayor Brown said it was his first time visiting Taiwan and he was quite amazed by the dense population and advanced technologies in Taiwan.
When exchanging ideas on city management and planning with Mayor Chu, Mayor Brown revealed his 30-year-plan of making Auckland the “most livable city”. Mayor Chu in response said he aspired to make his government the effective city renewal initiator that turns New Taipei City into a more favorable place through measures such as land expropriation and establishing more schools and hospitals.
Speaking of his experience in Taiwan, Mayor Brown said he was very impressed when visiting the Muzha Refuse Incineration Plant. Mayor Chu said New Taipei City hosts 3 incineration plants and, like Taipei City, is adopting the policy of per bag trash collection fee. Ever since the adoption of the policy, the amount of trash produced in New Taipei City dropped from 2600 tons to 1300 tons in three years. In addition, by encouraging citizens to conduct garbage classification, officials could reduce the refuse incineration cost and lower the per bag trash collection fee, effectively relieving the financial pressure on citizens.
As to transportation, Mayor Chu explained to Mayor Brown that there are three major bus systems in New Taipei City: New Taipei City Bus, Pre-MRT Bus, and Express Bus. These bus services all combined serve a daily average of 1.2 million passengers.
At the end of meeting, Mayor Chu and Mayor Brown exchanged their presents. Mayor Chu gave antique china and Mayor Brown gave a native New Zealand souvenir.