National Office and branch activities.

• Position: INSTITUTE NOTES - Obituary

National Office Executive Secretary Synonne Rajanayagam resigned in December. Christine Kavanagh has now taken over as her replacement.

A memorial function was held for Bruce Brown at the Wellington Club on 24 January. Bruce's son Stephen and Brian Lynch both gave eulogies.

In conjunction with the New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre, the NZIIA held a meeting at Parliament on 14 February to hear an address by Prof Shi Yinhong, director of the Center for American Studies at Renmin University, on 'China's Strategic Approach toward the United States'. Three days later HE Peter Szijjarto, minister of foreign affairs and trade in Hungary, spoke at the same venue on "The Future of the European Union after Brexit'.

On 2 March, a panel discussion chaired by Michael Powles was held at Parliament on 'Regional Security in 2017, Causes of Concern?' The panelists were Professor Seiichiro Takagi (senior research adviser, Japan Institute of International Affairs), Dr Jason Young (acting director, New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre, and senior lecturer in international relations at Victoria University), Dr Alexander Bukh (senior lecturer in international relations, Victoria University) and Jean-Marie Guehenno (president and CEO, International Crisis Group). Minister for Land Information Hon Mark Mitchell hosted the meeting.

On 15 March Gerard van Bohemen (New Zealand's permanent representative to the United Nations) addressed a meeting at VUW on 'New Zealand on the Security Council 2015-16: A View from Within'.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon Murray McCully delivered the NZIIA's 2017 Foreign Policy Lecture at a meeting at Parliament on 4 April. His topic was 'An Independent Foreign Policy: Reflections after Eight and a Half Years in the Foreign Affairs Portfolio'.

Auckland

The following meetings were held:

24 Nov Dr Rouzbeh Parsi (senior lecturer, Lund University, Sweden), "The Iranian Nuclear File and the EU Foreign Policy'.

28 Nov Olivier Weber (assistant professor, Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris and former war correspondent), 'Challenge and Response, The Current Crisis for the European Union'.

9 Mar Gerard van Bohemen, 'New Zealand on the Security Council 2015-16: A View from Within'.

Hawke's Bay

On 7 March Maty Nikkhou-O'Brien addressed the branch on President Trump's diplomacy.

Nelson

The following meetings have been held:

22 Nov Dr Rouzbeh Parsi (Lund University), "The History of the Iranian Nuclear File'.

14 Dec Sam Judd...