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Director of New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office visits Taoyuan

  • 發布單位:國際事務科
  • 聯絡人:Winnie Chen
  • 聯絡人電話:03-3322101*6520

Director of the New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office Moira Turley and new Deputy Director Aimee Jephson, who took office in February, visited Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan in Taoyuan City Hall today (29th). Moira Turley spoke highly of Taoyuan’s policies in indigenous groups, birth subsidies, promotion of green transportation, and other areas, and hopes that in the future, exchange can be facilitated not only in indigenous affairs, but also in green energy and economy.

Taoyuan City Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan said that Maori people in New Zealand share biological and historical connections with indigenous people in Taiwan, and such connections are based on strict scientific evidence. Taoyuan is diverse in ethnic groups and has the number three highest population in indigenous people in Taiwan. In terms of indigenous care policies, Taoyuan was the first in Taiwan to implement the group causality insurance for indigenous people. Indigenous people registered in Taoyuan over the age of 15 can be included in the insurance without application. In terms of social housing policies, the city government provides a 5% guarantee quota for indigenous people. Indigenous students enjoy tuition fee exemption and the majority of indigenous people in Taoyuan have had high education.

Moira Turley felt deeply for the above policies and situations, and said that the majority of Maori people in New Zealand also live in metropolitan areas. The same challenges are also faced by New Zealand in the promotion of high education and therefore, Taoyuan’s policies are definitely worth considering.

Taoyuan is a city with the youngest population in Taiwan, with the current average being 38 years old. In the past four years, the population has grown 170,000, which is the largest growth in Taiwan. Moira Turley was surprised by the numbers. Cheng Wen-tsan said that Taoyuan has implemented many childcare policies to care for young families. The birth subsidy offers 30,000 NTD for every birth, and the childcare subsidy is 3,000 NTD, which reduce the burden of young families.

Mayor Cheng said that Taoyuan is active in promoting green energy. At present, the policy on subsidizing the replacement of two-stroke motorbikes has yielded good results and the subsidy amount is also the highest in Taiwan. Major electric scooter company Gogoro established its factory in Taoyuan. Currently, the government is also exploring the idea of U-moto electric motorbikes to realize the visions of energy saving and carbon emission reduction, and green transportation. Shimen Reservoir was selected as the “Cross-Field Spotlight Program Demonstration Zone”, and Xizhou Tourist Center, which will also be a low-carbon station, is expected to be completed by the end of August. The center, once completed, can provide a variety of parking spaces. Tourists are thus able to take electric buses, bikes, or electric motorbikes to visit Shimen Reservoir to realize green eco-tourism that saves energy and reduces carbon emission. Mayor Cheng also added that Moira Turley and Aimee Jephson are welcomed to come to Taoyuan again for the tour.

Moira Turley said that New Zealand’s capital Wellington has steep terrains and therefore, electric bikes are also very popular among citizens. Taoyuan has good electric vehicle subsidy and policy that New Zealand can refer to, and she hopes to have further exchange with Taoyuan in this field.

After the meeting, Cheng Wen-tsan also invited Moira Turley to visit Taoyuan in June and participate the Amis ritual. The ritual happens to coincide with the Maori New Year series activities and is bound to be joyful and lively.

Director-general of the Taoyuan City Government Secretariat Yen Tzu-chieh said that indigenous affairs open the opportunity of exchange for both sides and it is hoped that in the future, more exchange can be facilitated in green transportation, economy, and culture.

Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan, Director-general of the Secretariat Yen Tzu-chieh, Director-general of the Department of Economic Development Kuo Yu-hsin, Director-general of the Department of Indigenous Affairs Lin Jih-Lung, and Chairperson of the Research and Evaluation Commission Wu Chun-Ting attended today’s event. Guests from the New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office included Director Moira Turley, Deputy Director Aimee Jephson, and Policy Adviser Lisa Tsai.