National Office and branch activities.

• Position: Institute Notes - New Zealand Institute of International Affairs - Calendar

On 30 March, at a meeting co-hosted by the NZIIA, UN Association, the Institute for Governance and Policy Studies, the New Zealand Centre for Global Studies and the Centre for Strategic Studies, Dr Ramesh Thakur (former UN assistant secretary-general, ICISS commissioner and director of the ANU Centre for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament) gave a public address on 'Nuclear Weapons: 3316 State of Play 2015'.

On 11 May in conjunction with the Victoria Institute for Links with Latin America and the Latin America New Zealand Business Council and supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the NZIIA staged a public lecture by Leonardo Arizaga (Ecuador's vice-minister for foreign affairs) on 'Ecuador: Outcomes and Challenges for the Citizens' Revolution'.

On 12 May the NZIIA joined with the European Union Delegation to New Zealand, the British High Commission and the New Zealand European Union Centres Network to stage a panel discussion at Parliament on the UK general election hosted by Paul Foster-Bell MP. The topic was 'The European Union and the United Kingdom--What Next After the UK Election?'

On 28 May, in conjunction with the European Union Delegation to New Zealand, the New Zealand European Union Centres Network and the Embassy of the Slovak Republic, the NZIIA convened a meeting at Parliament to hear HE Miroslav Lajcak (deputy prime minister and minister of foreign and European affairs of the Slovak Republic) speak on 'Slovakia's Place in the World: The Role and Priorities of Slovak Foreign Policy within the EU and in the World'. Mark Mitchell MP, the chair of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee, hosted the meeting.

The NZIIA's Annual Dinner and National Council meeting were held on 17-18 June. A full report will be included in the next issue.

NZIIA members were saddened to learn of the death on 7 May of Erima Henare, a former member of the Standing Committee.

Christchurch

The following meetings were held:

29 Apr Jin Zhijian (Chinese consul general for Christchurch), 'Great Opportunities Facing Sino-New Zealand Relations'.

28 May Dr Maria A. Pozza, 'Laws of Arms Control in Outer Space'.

10 Jun Lt-Col Jeremy Ramsden (deputy director strategic engagements, New Zealand Defence Force), 'Security in North-east Asia and the Challenge of North Korea'.

Waikato

The branch held its ACM on 22 April. The following officers were elected:

Chair--Prof Dov Bing

Deputy Chair--Brian Main

Secretary--Simon Gray

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