Institute notes: the National Office and branch activities.

On 20 June Victoria University of Wellington Vice Chancellor Professor Pat Walsh launched Southeast Asia and New Zealand. Edited by Dr Anthony Smith, this collection of essays was co-published with the Institute of South East Asian Studies and Victoria University. The Secretary-General of ASEAN, HE Ong Keng Yong, was present at this occasion. (A review of this book can be found elsewhere in this issue.)

A roundtable meeting with representatives of the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs was held at Victoria University of Wellington on 9 August. Ambassador Lourdes Aranda (Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs) and Julian Ventura (Head of the Asia-Pacific Division) discussed a range of topics related to Mexico, including its internal political situation (a presidential election is due in 2006), relations with the United States and North Asia and particularly China, its position regarding the wider Asia-Pacific region and its approach to UN reform.

On 23 September, the National Office co-hosted with the Centre for Strategic Studies an address by Dr James Boutilier (Special Adviser, Maritime Forces Pacific Headquarters, Canada) on 'Looking for the Woods and the Trees: Reflections on the New World Order--A Canadian Perspective'.

Auckland

The following meetings were held:

15 Aug Juan-Carlos Brandt (Director, UN Information Centre for the Pacific, Sydney), 'UN Renewal: In Larger Freedom--Towards Development, Security and Human Rights for All'. (This meeting was co-hosted with the UN Association of New Zealand.)

16 Aug New Zealand Foreign Policy Forum: 'The Future of New Zealand Foreign Policy'.

24 Aug Prof Efraim Inbar (Director, Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, Bar-Ilan University), 'Iran and the Risk of Nuclear Proliferation'.

Christchurch

The following meetings were held:

14 Jul Dr Malakai Koloamatangi (National Centre for Research on Europe), 'The European Union in the Pacific Islands'.

3 Aug HE Stuart Prior (New Zealand Ambassador to Russia), 'Russia Today: First Class is Non-refundable'.

17 Aug Juan-Carlos Brandt (Director, UN Information Centre for the Pacific), 'United Nations Reform'.

Napier

The branch staged several meetings:

20 Jul Associate Prof Jim Veitch (Religious Studies, Victoria University of Wellington),'The Interaction of Religion and Violence in Christianity and Islam'.

5 Oct Farib Sos (Executive Chairman, Asia Forum), 'Does New Zealand Need Asia?'.

Wellington

The following meeting were held:

23 Jun David Harris...