Institute notes: National Office and branch activities.

• Position: New Zealand Institute of International Affairs

On 26-27 April 2006, with assistance from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the NZIIA co-hosted in Singapore a two-day seminar with the Institute of South East Asian Studies. Other New Zealand-based participants were members of the Asia New Zealand Foundation and the ASEAN-New Zealand Business Council.

The focus of the seminar was twofold: first, to share Singapore and New Zealand views on current and medium-term political and economic trends in the wider Asian region and their possible implications for the two countries; and secondly, to examine a number of specific aspects of the Singapore--New Zealand bilateral relationship and identify areas where the relationship could be strengthened. The keynote New Zealand address was given by Hon Jim Sutton.

The NZIIA was represented by the Director, Brian Lynch, who chaired a session on regional defence and strategic issues, and gave a paper on 'A New Zealand Perspective on Emerging East Asian Architecture'. (The text of his address is to be found elsewhere in this issue.)

The seminar was a 'first' for the NZIIA and helped to consolidate the close collaborative links built with the ISEAS in recent years. A second seminar with the ISEAS on the same broad themes is planned in New Zealand in 2007.

On 16 May 2006, 105 people attended an address in Wellington by Ambassador Herve Ladsous, the head of the Asia--Oceania Division in the French Foreign Ministry.

In the week beginning 8 May 2006 the Director attended a meeting in Montreal, Canada, of the APEC Business Council (ABAC). Subsequently, after a short time in Geneva to catch up on developments in the WTO Doha Development Round, he called on NZIIA counterpart organisations in London; namely, Chatham House, the International Institute for Strategic Studies, and the Royal United Services Institute for Defence Studies. On 28 May at the invitation of the APEC Secretariat, he represented ABAC at a meeting in Ho Chi Minh City on regional free trade agreements.

The NZIIA's Annual Dinner was held in Wellington on 27 June 2006 with the Governor-General, HE Dame Silvia Cartwright, as guest speaker. The National Council meeting took place the following day. A full report of the proceedings will be included in the next issue.

Auckland

On 19 May the branch joined with World Vision and some other organisations to co-host a meeting to hear World Food Programme Public Affairs Manager Gerry Bourke speak on the work of the programme. At a further...