The trip to the Japanese city is part of the 30-year celebrations of the sister-city agreement between the two councils.
Invercargill Mayor Nobby Clark told the Southland Express this week the council had approved a budget of up to $30,000 to pay for flights and three or four nights’ accommodation in Kumagaya.
The mayor, along with councillors Trish Boyle, Alex Crackett, Darren Ludlow, Barry Stewart and deputy mayor Tom Campbell, "who will be travelling at his own cost", would be part of the Invercargill delegation, he said.
"I sought an interest in people in going and not just because they wanted to go. We weigh up two things: the size of the delegation ... and the costs.
"We previously set a budget of $30,000 for this trip and so we needed to stay on that. I believe actually it’s going to be less than that as it will cost about $3000 per person."
He guaranteed all the tickets would be at the lowest fare, or economy class.
Mr Clark said Kumagaya International Friendship Association representatives would also be joining the delegation, but would be paying for their trip.
He said meals and tours were organised by the hosting council.
In January, about 12 representatives of the Japanese city, including the Mayor of Kumagaya Tetsuya Kobayashi, landed in Invercargill to commemorate 30 years since the signing of the sister-city agreement and for a city tour.
"They sent 13 people which I think is too much," Mr Clark said.
He also said those who would be travelling to Japan would not be funded to attend the Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) Conference in Christchurch in July.
That was why new chief executive Michael Day would not be travelling to Japan as he would be representing the council at the annual meeting, along with councillors Ian Pottinger, Ria Bond and Grant Dermody, Mr Clark said.
"You’ve got to balance it out — we set a budget of how much the council could spend with [personal] development and travel.
"So the ones going to Kumagaya, would not be going to LGNZ. I said to them: ‘you cannot go to both. It is not appropriate’."
Mr Clark said in the past he was not in favour of the sister-city agreement himself but, since joining the council, he could see benefits from it.
While he was visiting the Japanese city, he had areas he would like to focus on.
"We will be promoting the student exchange between the two cities and will also try to make some links with Kumagaya rugby to see if we can do some player exchanges with Stags as well.
"Promote the tourism and also potential swapping over some council staff who might come to work here for a short period of time."
The trip was planned for July 19.
