Institute notes.

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

National Office and branch activities.

On 1-3 February 2010 the NZIIA hosted a visit from the Saranrom Institute of Foreign Affairs, Bangkok, Thailand. On 9-10 February 2010 the NZIIA co-hosted a conference in Wellington to mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and New Zealand. The organisation of the conference was largely the work of Standing Committee member Dr David Capie.

On 10 February the NZIIA co-hosted a function at which Hon Simon Power MP, Minister of Justice, launched a book Celebrating Human Rights: 60 Years of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. Edited by Dr Rod Alley, it contains the proceedings of the December 2008 conference to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights.

Between 2 and 20 March analyst and writer Dr Daryl Copeland spoke on the theme of 'Guerrilla Diplomacy' at five NZIIA branches (details below) in a programme of talks organised by National Office.

On 1 March William Crosbie, the Canadian Ambassador to Afghanistan, spoke in Wellington to an audience of 90. On 5 March a two-hour roundtable discussion was held with Ambassador Lourdes Aranda, Vice-Minister in the Mexico Foreign Ministry. A further roundtable was held on 16 March with HE Jaime Merizalde, Foreign Minister of Colombia.

On 17 March Dr Robert Thompson (Trinity College, Dublin) gave an address to 85 in Wellington on 'Decision-making in the European Union'. On 22-23 March the NZIIA took part in Track Two talks in Wellington with a delegation from the Vietnam Diplomatic Academy. On 26 March the National Office hosted talks with a delegation from the Seoul-based Korean Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security.

Auckland

A seminar was held on 8 March with Daryl Copeland on 'Guerrilla Diplomacy: Rethinking International Relations for the Globalisation Age'. On 16 March another seminar focused on 'The Resurgence of Maritime Piracy: An International Law Perspective'. Chaired by international lawyer Gregory J. Thwaite, it had as speaker Professor Fred Soons, who teaches on the international law of the sea at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. This seminar was conducted in association with the University of Auckland's Faculty of Law, the International Law Association (New Zealand Branch) and the Maritime Law Association of Australia and New Zealand.

Christchurch

The branch AGM was held on 23 February. The officers elected were:

President--Alex McKinnon

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