National Office and branch activities.

• Position: INSTITUTE NOTES

Much to the regret of his many friends and colleagues, the NZIIAs longtime treasurer, Professor Athol Mann, died on 14 November.

On 22 November the former president of the German Parliament Prof Dr Norbert Lammert addressed a meeting at the Wellington Club on 'Germany and Europe in a New Era of Global Challenges'.

The secretary of state and chief of the cabinet of the president of the Republic of Poland, HE Krzysztof Szczerski, addressed a meeting at Parliament on 5 December on 'The Future of Europe, A Polish Perspective'. (The edited text of his address is to be found elsewhere in this issue.)

On 13 February US Ambassador HE Scott Brown addressed a meeting in Auckland on 'The United States and New Zealand: An Enduring, Modern Partnership'.

The NZIIAs 2018 conference was held on 27 February on the topic 'The Law of the Jungle, How Can New Zealand Navigate Global Disruption?'. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was the keynote speaker.

Christchurch

The branch held its final event of the year on 12 December. The speakers were the outgoing chair, Dr Chris Jones, who is stepping down to take up his new role as dean (international) in the College of Arts, his replacement as chair, Dr Serena Kelly, of the National Centre for Research on Europe, and student representatives Thandi Parker, John Richardson and Becci Louise.

Nelson

The following meetings were held:

28 Nov Murray Sturgeon (managing director of Nelson Pine's medium density fibreboard operation), 'The Highs and Lows of International Trade'.

18 Jan HE Zbigniew Gniatkowski (Polish ambassador), 'Poland and its Perspective on the European Union Facing Brexit, Migrations and Russia'.

2 Feb HE Gerhard Thiedemann (German ambassador), 'Facing Europe's Challenges'.

22 Feb Steven Jacobi (executive director of the New Zealand International Business Forum and the New Zealand China Council), 'New Zealand's Relationship with China'.

Wairarapa

On 29 November Colin James (journalist and leading political commentator), addressed the branch on 'Will Cities Rule the World?' (The text of his address is to be found elsewhere in this issue.)

Wellington

With the Confucius Institute at Victoria University of Wellington, the branch co-hosted a seminar to mark the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and China on 22 December 1972. The event, 'New Zealand's Relationship with China: Past, Present and Future', was held on...