Institute notes: National Office and branch activities.

• Position: New Zealand Institute of International Affairs

The NZIIA was one of a number of sponsors of a European Union seminar to commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Rome in 1957 held in Wellington on 21 March. There were 170 present to hear discussions on theme of 'New Governance, New Opportunities and New Partnerships'. Seminars were also staged in Auckland on 19 March and Christchurch on 22 March.

On 22 March the National Office hosted a roundtable discussion with former Prime Minister of Singapore and now Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.

Two seminars were staged in Wellington at the end of March. The first, on 29 March, focused on New Zealand's relations with India. Opened by the Minister of Trade Phil Goff with 65 in attendance, it included sessions on the evolution of relations between the two countries, the future of the relationship and the problems and challenges of doing business in India. Keynote addresses were given by Dr K. Kesavapany (Director of the Institute of South East Asian Studies) and Professor Varun Sahni (Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi). Mani Shankar Aiyar, a minister in the Indian government, gave the concluding remarks. (It is intended to publish a selection of the addresses in a forthcoming issue.)

On 30 March the second seminar, 'East Asia: Political and Economic Integration', attracted 85 participants. After an opening address by Simon Murdoch, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade, a range of speakers addressed the economic and political forces driving Asian regional convergence and integration, and the way forward. Eight overseas speakers took part, from Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Singapore and the United States.

On 18 April the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Winston Peters, launched New Zealand and World Affairs, Volume 4. Edited by Roderic Alley, this volume covers the period 1990-2005.

Auckland

The following meetings were held:

1 Mar Dr Zachary Abuza (Simmons College, Boston), 'The Potential for Terrorism in South-east Asia and the Pacific--Militant Islam in South-east Asia'.

27 Mar HE Jean-Michel Marlaud (French Ambassador in New Zealand), 'Where Should the European Union End?'

Christchurch

The branch AGM was held on 27 March. The following officers were elected:

Chair--Dr Kennedy Graham

Secretary--Marcia McIntyre

Treasurer--Nancy McMillan

Committee--Bruce Harding, John

Henderson, Roy Holmes, Stuart McMillan, Philippa Mein Smith, Tanya Ogilvie-White, Margaret Sweet.

Following the meeting, Dr Tim Beal (Victoria University of...