Institute notes: National office and branch activities.

HE David Daly, the head of the European Commission Delegation to Australia and New Zealand, delivered an address on 'The European Union and the World Financial Crisis' on 18 February.

On 30 March Professor Rei Shiratori, from Tokyo's Akita International University, gave an address on 'Japan: Recent Changes in Society and Party Politics' at Victoria University of Wellington.

Professor Ngaire Woods, a New Zealander who is Professor of International Political Economy at University College, Oxford, spoke on 'Governing the Global Financial Crisis: Global Crisis, Global Solution?' on 6 April.

Alan Seatter, Director at the European Commission Directorate-General for External Relations, addressed a meeting on 22 April 2009. His topic was 'What Role for Trans-Atlantic Relations in the Pacific Century?'

Auckland

On 1 April the branch, in association with the University of Auckland's Law Faculty and the New Zealand branch of the International Law Association, held a meeting to hear Sir Kenneth Keith (a Judge of the International Court of Justice) speak on '150 Years Since the Battle of Solferino:

Current Implications for Humanitarian Law'.

The following meetings were also held:

3 Mar Jerry Jordan (The Fraser Institute), 'The Economic and Financial Crisis: Origins and Consequences'.

12 Mar Simon Nicholson (American University), 'The Hungry Billion:

Making Sense of the Global Food Crisis'.

Hawke's Bay

On 26 February Dr Tony Wrightson, an educationalist and development worker, spoke on the dilemma between national and international funding expectations and the realities for development workers in the field. Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General Jerry Matuperae addressed the branch on 'Defending a Small Nation' on 24 March.

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Christchurch

The branch held its AGM on 27 February. The following officers were elected:

Chairman--Alex McKinnon

Secretary--Marcia McIntyre

Treasurer--Margaret Sweet

Committee--Kennedy Graham, Stuart McMillan, W.R. Holmes, Prof W. David McIntyre...