New Zealand Institute of International Affairs - NZIIA - National Office

MEET OUR BRANCH CHAIRS

Sarah Fetuani is the recently elected chair of the NZIIA Auckland Branch committee member. She has a decade of experience at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), primarily in the Immigration Division, and is currently studying law at the University of Auckland. An alumna of the university, she holds degrees in Politics and History, in Communication and Public Policy, as well as a Master of International Security from Massey University's Centre for Defence and Security Studies (CDSS). Her main area of research interest is Security Jurisprudence at both the national and international levels.

Sarah has been an active member of the Auckland Branch of NZIIA for a number of years and is excited to take on this new role.

Consider joining Sarah and the team in Auckland here - https://www.nziia.org.nz/membership

KNOW MORE: Join the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs to access expert knowledge on how international affairs are affecting New Zealand.

Benefits include exclusive event invites, copies of our flagship publication 'New Zealand International Review,' discounts to paid-for events, articles, podcasts, newsletters, and more. Individual memberships from $0-80 per annum. Join here: https://www.nziia.org.nz/membership

There was standing room only at Europe House last night, as NZIIA Auckland Branch kicked off the year with a fascinating discussion on history and geopolitics in South Caucasus.

Tigran Yepremyan from Yerevan State University provided an excellent presentation on how great powers, trade routes, and divergent geopolitical visions are all competing in the region. He set this in historical context, talked about the prospect of lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the implications of the 'Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP).'

Engage in the discussion on international affairs by becoming a member of NZIIA here: https://www.nziia.org.nz/membership

NZIIA and the Centre for Strategic Studies recently hosted Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in Wellington as she talked about the struggle for democracy in Belarus. The talk covered:

- links between Belarus and New Zealand people;
- the present state of Belarussian government and the prospects for peaceful revolution and democracy;
- the remarkable story of Sviatlana and her husband, Siarhei, who was arrested and imprisoned by the Lukashenko regime for five years until his recent release;
- why the situation in Belarus is relevant to New Zealand, and what New Zealand can do in response.

Watch back here:

The struggle for democracy in Belarus, with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya On 3 November 2025 NZIIA hosted an address in Wellington on ‘the struggle for democracy in Belarus’ with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, President-elect of Belarus...

The Sept / Oct edition of 'New Zealand International Review' is out, featuring articles on New Zealand's foreign policy reset, South Korea democracy, nuclear dangers and more.

As a taster, read Holly Tudehope's take on South Korea's declaration of martial law last December: https://www.nziia.org.nz/articles/rallying-for-democracy/

To subscribe to the New Zealand International Review magazine, join NZIIA as a member here: https://www.nziia.org.nz/membership

Yesterday NZIIA held its inaugural event in Rotorua - a very special occasion. We were pleased to host over 70 people to hear Sir Peter Gluckman provide a tour de force on what New Zealand needs to do to get up-to-speed in a global science and technology revolution.

With sincere thanks to Ngāti Whakaue for the exceedingly warm welcome, Rotorua Library, Te Aka Mauri for hosting, Fisher Wang for his comments, Sanjeev Raikar for organisation and to all the interested and engaged people who came along. There is plenty to build on for further NZIIA activity in Rotorua.

Is climate change an insurmountable challenge? We posed this to an expert panel at the national conference, featuring contributions from Chlöe Swarbrick MP, Kate Wilson Butler and Kristy Harrison, moderated by Esther Guy-Meakin. Watch back here:

Is climate change an insurmountable challenge? NZIIA Conference 2025 Climate change is one of the gravest threats to Aotearoa New Zealand’s security and prosperity, and ultimately our wellbeing. The New Zealand Government has ...

The July/August edition of New Zealand International Review is out, with detail from Hon Judith Collins on New Zealand's Defence Capability Plan, discussion of tariffs, cryptocurrency, gateways to Africa, New Zealand's approach to naval defence and more.

As a teaser, read Dr Roderic Alley's article on the plight of children in armed conflict here: https://www.nziia.org.nz/articles/stained-humanity/

Purchase your copy of New Zealand International Review, or subscribe as a NZIIA member on our website here: https://www.nziia.org.nz/publication/nzir/62