National Dong Hwa University（NDHU）has been committed to promoting international exchanges since its establishment. Recently, the university had the privilege of hosting a visit from the Asia New Zealand Foundation's Leadership Network. The delegation was led by Adele Mason, Acting Executive Director of the Foundation, with the support of Tina Wehipeihana-Wilson, Director of Trade at the New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office（NZCIO）, and Deputy Director Renee Bates. This one-day cultural exchange program along Taiwan's East Coast was coordinated by the Center for International Indigenous Affairs（CIIA）, an organization with a long history of nurturing Taiwan-Aotearoa New Zealand relations.

The delegation was warmly welcomed by President Han-Chieh Chao（趙涵㨗）, Vice President Hui-Mi Hsu（徐輝明）, Dean Chung-shan Shih（石忠山）of the College of Indigenous Studies（CIS）, and university faculty and students. They engaged in discussions covering a wide range of topics, with a shared vision for future bilateral development.

The delegation was composed of young professionals from Aotearoa New Zealand, many of whom were visiting Taiwan for the first time. Their diverse backgrounds included doctors, scholars, lawyers, engineers, and more. During their visit to the CIS, they had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the concept of "Campus as a tribal community" through visits to the Millet Farm（小米園）and the Sapah Ptasan（竹麻屋）. They also had the privilege of tasting traditional Paiwan cuisine, prepared in a workshop led by Professor Joyce Hsiu-yen Yeh（葉秀燕）. Sifo Lakaw（鍾文觀）, Chairman of the Association of Pangcah Language Revitalization in Taiwan, who serves as CIIA cultural advisor, offered a traditional blessing and speech, to which the visiting delegation responded with a waiata māori（Māori song）, expressing their appreciation in a traditional manner.

President Chao and Vice President Hsu extended a warm welcome on behalf of the university. The CIIA provided information about the College of Indigenous Studies and Taiwan's Indigenous transitional justice policies. Dean Shih introduced the university with a presentation. During the gift exchange between the visiting dignitaries and the university's main guests, Director Wehipeihana performed the Maori traditional greeting, the Hongi, symbolizing the exchange of breath and the unity of both parties as one family. The performance by the CIS Dance Troupe was spectacular and garnered high praise. Director Wehipeihana expressed a desire for future exchanges, including the possibility of arranging for an Aotearoa New Zealand Maori Haka group to visit the university.

In addition, Deputy Representative Bates publicly presented a photograph of an award given to CIIA Director Jolan Hsieh（Bavaragh Dagalomai 謝若蘭）during a mid-September celebration of the 10^th anniversary of the New Zealand - Taiwan Economic Cooperation Agreement. This was an expression of gratitude for Dr. Hsieh's long-term dedication to Taiwan-Aotearoa New Zealand friendship.

After the campus visit, Dean Shih accompanied the delegation to Kakita'an（the ancestral house）in his tribal community, Tafalong. Upon arrival at Kakita'an, the hosts welcomed the guests with traditional ceremonies, and discussions took place inside the ancestral house. The visiting group immediately felt a sense of familiarity when they saw Kakita'an, reminiscent of their own Maori marae（meeting grounds）. The group also visited the Kakimadan no to'as no Tafalong（Tafalong Cultural Museum）for an exchange on local culture. They also enjoyed an introduction to and tasting of local culture and food at the Katepay Tribal Life Space（紅糯米生活空間）.

Adele Mason emphasized that the Foundation is dedicated to providing experiences that facilitate deeper connections, heightened awareness, and the acquisition of knowledge in alignment with its core Leadership Network goals, which encompass areas such as arts, business, education, entrepreneurship, leadership, media, research, and informal diplomacy. She also noted that the trip had undoubtedly contributed to fulfilling these objectives. Furthermore, she commended the success of the one-day exchange program in Hualien during their brief visit to Taiwan and expressed her gratitude for the meticulous arrangements made by Director Hsieh.

Dr. Hsieh expressed the utmost gratitude to the university for its support and to all those who contributed to the exchange, including faculty, students, volunteer teams, and the CIS Dance Troupe. She noted that international exchanges wouldn't have been possible without their united efforts. Dr. Hsieh emphasized that the visiting delegation left with a deeply positive impression of their first visit to Taiwan, and they briefly discussed plans for future bilateral exchange programs with the Asia New Zealand Foundation.