Ties That Bind: From Laces to the Land

Some journeys stay with you long after you return home. This one did too — not because of the itinerary, but because of what it revealed about connection and belonging.

Travelling to Taipei for the APEC Women and Youth Empowerment programme offered more than a professional exchange — it revealed unexpected parallels between Taiwan and Aotearoa. What stood out most was not the architecture, food, or technology, but a shared sense of community that shapes daily life in both places.

Taiwan’s reputation for hospitality is well earned. Image supplied/AMC

Our first encounter with this came within minutes of arriving. After navigating the train system with the usual confusion of newcomers, three locals approached us unprompted, asking if we needed help and then escorting us to the correct platform. It set the tone for the week ahead: Taiwan’s reputation for hospitality is well earned.

What Connects Us to a Place?

The following morning, I set out on a hike — a decision locals later described as questionable in 36-degree humidity. Halfway up the trail, a Taiwanese hiker noticed I was struggling and handed me an isotonic drink, explaining he always brings extra for tourists. He suggested adjusting my shoelaces for better grip and then accompanied me to the trail exit.

The encounter was brief, but the message was consistent with what many travellers say about Aotearoa: people remember the kindness of locals more than the scenery. The question lingered — what makes a country feel familiar, even far from home?

A Country That Describes Itself as “One Village”

Later, on a taxi ride to a museum, my driver — Tom — spoke proudly about Taiwan’s diversity.

When I asked how different communities coexist, he didn’t hesitate:

“We are all of this country.”

The phrase echoed long after the ride ended. For a nation shaped by migration, Tom described Taiwan less as a geopolitical actor and more as a tightly connected social unit — “a large village,” as one well-known local director once put it.

Those sentiments felt strikingly familiar.

These commonalities reinforced the sense that Taiwan was not entirely unfamiliar — a feeling strengthened throughout the APEC engagement. Image supplied/AMC

Shared Threads: Taiwan and Aotearoa

Beyond surface-level resemblances, the two places share deeper connections. Indigenous languages such as Māori, Ami, and Atayal all belong to the Austronesian family, reflecting a long history of movement and exchange across the Pacific. But the links go beyond linguistics.

Values like hospitality, community responsibility, and care for visitors are embedded in both societies. In Taiwan, these qualities show themselves in collective responses to typhoons and earthquakes. In Aotearoa, they are central to manākitanga and whanaungatanga, shaping social life from marae practice to neighbourhood networks.

These commonalities reinforced the sense that Taiwan was not entirely unfamiliar — a feeling strengthened throughout the APEC engagement.

I spoke on disability and technology, reflecting on the risks and opportunities created by rapid digital transformation. Image supplied/AMC

Representing Aotearoa at APEC

Our delegation travelled to Taiwan to take part in the APEC Workshop on Women and Youth Empowerment: Enhancing Digital Competitiveness and Inclusive Economic Growth Through Innovative Enterprise Education. I spoke on disability and technology, reflecting on the risks and opportunities created by rapid digital transformation.

The workshop aligned with APEC’s wider goals of inclusive, sustainable growth across member economies.

Policymakers, educators, and industry leaders shared models for building digital capability, supporting transitions into formal employment, and preparing youth for globally connected labour markets. This year’s focus on innovation and inclusion responded to the broader 2024 APEC theme: Empower, Include, Grow.

For economies like New Zealand — deeply reliant on stable regional conditions and strong Asia-Pacific partnerships — such forums play a crucial role. As global institutions strain under shifting geopolitical pressures, ongoing engagement remains essential for protecting trade, fostering cooperation, and maintaining shared aspirations for digital equity.

Reflections From Taipei

As the week progressed, the similarities between Taiwan and Aotearoa became increasingly apparent. Taiwan’s education achievements, its bilingual aspirations, and its strong sense of social cohesion reinforce the value it places on collective progress. New Zealand’s own history — from the Treaty of Waitangi to international advocacy on nuclear issues and women’s rights — reflects a similar orientation toward community-focused development.

The simple metaphor of tying shoelaces — preparing oneself properly before setting out — gained new meaning throughout the trip. Whether on a trail in Taipei or in the hills of Aotearoa, taking a moment to stabilise yourself influences the journey ahead.

Taiwanese residents often describe their society as united by shared identity and mutual responsibility. Image supplied/AMC

A Final Question

Taiwanese residents often describe their society as united by shared identity and mutual responsibility. “We are all of this country,” Tom had said.

It prompted me to reflect on home.

How many threads bind us in Aotearoa? And how often do we recognise the values that connect us to each other — and to those we meet abroad?

The answer, perhaps, is found not in elaborate scenes or dramatic landscapes, but in everyday interactions: the offered directions, the spare drink, the shared pride in place, and the ties — literal and symbolic — that hold us steady as we navigate the world.

-Asia Media Centre