INSTITUTE NOTES.

• Position: Brief Article

The National Council meeting and branch activities.

The NZIIA's National Council meeting was held on Saturday, 12 May. It was preceded on the Friday night, as previously, by a well-attended annual dinner. The guest of honour, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Hon Phil Goff, spoke on the new approaches needed to deal with global issues in the 21st century. The text of his address is the lead article in this issue.

At the National Council Hon Sir Kenneth Keith was re-elected as President. He noted that the new Governor-General, Dame Silvia Cartwright, had agreed to serve as Patron, in succession to her predecessor Sir Michael Hardie Boys, whose interest in the NZIIA was recognised by his appointment as an Honorary Vice President. Alison Stokes, standing down from the Standing Committee, and Scott Thomson, who has the distinction of having been the leading light in the formation of two NZIIA branches, were also added to the vice presidential list. The other office holders were all re-elected or re-appointed.

Reports were received from the Director, the Treasurer, the Chairman of the Research Committee, and the Editor of the NZIR. There was some discussion about the problems of maintaining the financial viability of the magazine. The substantial publication programme in the past year was strongly praised.

Each of the branches, with the exception of Dunedin, reported on their activities. The state of the Dunedin branch, virtually in recess, was noted with concern, and hopes were expressed that interest could be revived. The strong programmes of several of the branches elsewhere, especially that in Auckland, provided a vivid contrast.

Following lunch Hon Lockwood Smith, the member of Parliament for Rodney and Minister of Overseas Trade in the former National-led coalition government, gave a well-researched address on the scourge of protectionism. The text of his address can also be found elsewhere in this issue.

Auckland

At the branch AGM on 10 April the following officers were elected:

Chair Dr Rouben Azizian Deputy Chair Dr Jian Yang Secretary Tony Wilson Treasurer Michael Burns Committee Associate Professor Stephen Hoadley, Gerard van Bohemen, Emily Cull, Glen Hazelton, Nick James, Sam Learmouth, Berin McKenzie, Jose van Veldhoven. Following its launch of radio programme `Diplomatic Forum' last year, the branch launched its web site in early May 2001. The address is www.nziiaaucklandbranch.8m.com

The following meetings were held:

10 Apr...