Institute notes: national office and branch activities.

• Position: Books

The National Office's major preoccupation was the organisation of a seminar in Wellington on 21 October on governance, humanitarian and reconstruction issues in post-war Iraq. This featured three overseas speakers with special knowledge of the Middle East and of Iraq in particular--Graham Fuller (former Rand Corporation analyst), Professor Phebe Marr (National Defence University, Washington) and Dr Gareth Stansfield (University of Exeter)--and MFAT's Michael Chilton, plus a panel discussion chaired by MFAT Deputy Secretary Alan Williams. Following the seminar the speakers visited a number of branches outside Wellington and also Napier. Holding a public meeting there with an overseas speaker provided an opportunity to assess interest in the possibility of establishing a new branch to cover Hawke's Bay. The National Office acknowledges the support of the Ministry. of Foreign Affairs and Trade and its staff in London and Washington in the staging of the seminar.

The National Office remained significantly involved in arrangements for a seminar on inter-Korean relations scheduled for 18 November and co-hosted with the Asian Studies Institute of Victoria University of Wellington. This function will also involve several overseas participants. Sir Frank Holmes and the Director are assisting the Asia 2000 Foundation with preparations for the "Seriously Asia' forum to be held at Parliament on 26 November.

Judge Anand Satyanand, a member of the NZIIA's Standing Committee, visited the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London on 23 September and had useful discussions with the Director-General, Victor Bulmer-Thomas.

During August and September the Director made introductory calls on 30 current corporate and institutional members of the NZIIA, and ten prospective new members. These call were used to discuss the benefits that present members obtain from their participation in NZIIA activities, and to identify possible ways in which even greater value could be derived. Arrangements are in hand for the Director to speak to four branches before the end of the year.

Christchurch

The following meetings have been held:

10 Sep Dr Judith Bennett (Visiting Scholar, University of Canterbury's Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies), 'The 2000 Coup and the Prelude to the Intervention Force in the Solomon Islands'. 25 Sep Li Shantong (Director of Research, State Council Development Strategy Department) and Wang Qiliang (retired senior diplomat), 'Update...