National Office and branch activities.

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

Dr James Kember, who was until recently New Zealand's ambassador in Paris, has been appointed chair of the Research and Publications Committee in place of Dr Anthony Smith, who has stood down.

Rosalind Warren has been appointed as National Office strategic event consultant. She will help the National Office organise national-level events with large audiences, with a view in particular to boosting the NZIIA's profile in Auckland.

On 6 November, in conjunction with the Australian High Commission and Melbourne University Press, a book launch was held at Victoria University of Wellington for former Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans's Incorrigible Optimist, A Political Memoir.

On 14 November HE Nasser Hamad Al-Khalifa, Qatar's ambassador to Australia and New Zealand, addressed a meeting on 'The Gulf Tinderbox: A View from Qatar'.

Auckland

On 4 September Judge Silvia Fernandez de Gurmendi (president of the International Criminal Court) addressed the branch on 'The International Criminal Court at Fifteen: Achievements and Challenges'. This meeting was held in association with the International Law Society.

Palmerston North

On 27 September Prof Rouben Azizian and Dr Carl Bradley of Massey University's Centre for Defence and Security Studies addressed a meeting on 'Security: What is in a Name?'

Waikato

On 25 October Prof Rouben Azizian (director of the Centre for Defence and Security Studies, Massey University) addressed the branch on 'Russia in the Asia-Pacific: Regional Spoiler or Genuine Stakeholder?'

Wairarapa

The following meetings were held:

11 Oct Paul Sinclair (Centre for Strategic Studies), 'The Challenge North Korea Presents to the International Community'. (The edited text of this address is to be found elsewhere in this issue.)

2 Nov Prof Jonathon Boston (School of Government, Victoria University of Wellington), 'Political Short-termism and the Global Challenge of Safeguarding Future Interests'.

Wellington

On 3 October a panel discussion was held on 'The EU at 60'. The panellists were HE Bernard Savage (head of the EU Delegation in New Zealand), HE Rob Zaagman (Netherlands ambassador to New Zealand) and Prof Martin Holland (director of the National Centre for Research on Europe, University of Canterbury). French Ambassador HE Florence JeanBlanc-Risler chaired the discussion.

On 3 November the branch and the Centre for Strategic Studies with the South Korean Embassy held a meeting to discuss 'The North Korean Nuclear Issue: Is a...