The Annual Dinner and National Council meeting.

• Position: INSTITUTE NOTES - New Zealand Institute of International Affairs conference - Conference notes

As previously, the NZIIA's Annual Dinner was held on the evening before the National Council, 25 May. One hundred and seventy were present, the largest attendance yet at such an occasion. Both the Governor-General, Sir Anand Satyanand, and the Prime Minister, John Key, were present to help mark the NZIIA's 75th anniversary. Both gave addresses (to be found elsewhere in this issue). During the evening life membership certificates were presented by the Governor-General to Bruce Brown and Sir Frank Holmes.

At the National Council on 26 May, Hon Russell Marshall noted in his report that there had been a three-fold increase in the past five years in the number of events organised. He referred with satisfaction to the attendance of more than 250 people at four functions during the year and to the branch membership of 1100.

The election of office holders followed. Marshall was again re-elected president. With Bruce Brown standing down as vice president, Professor Rob Rabel was elected to this position. The other office-holders were all re-elected, with Craig Greaves being added to the Standing Committee.

The National Council agreed to a proposal to introduce a new category of life members. Bruce Brown, Sir Frank Holmes and Sir Kenneth Keith were elected as the first three life members. Citations for them can be found elsewhere in this issue.

The director, Brian Lynch, outlined a full programme of activities in his report. The National Office hosted eleven addresses, seven roundtable discussions and three seminars. Among the year's highlights was the hosting of a dialogue with the Indian Council of World Affairs in November and the links established with the Shanghai Institute of International Studies.

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A report on finances was presented by the treasurer, Professor Athol Mann. He noted that the NZIIA had incurred a loss of nearly $11,000 in 2008.

The council also received the report of the NZIR's managing editor, Dr Ian McGibbon. This indicated a small decrease in circulation and a small but manageable deficit.

In her report Professor Ann Trotter, the chair of the Research Committee, noted the publication during the year of the...