The NZIIA Podcast: Recent Episodes
NZIIA Youth Panel
On The NZIIA podcast, we talk all things international. From trade to geopolitics to diplomacy, the NZIIA seeks to encourage an understanding of the importance of global affairs to the political and economic well-being of New Zealand as in this interconnected age, what happens beyond these shores affects us all at home.
An expert panel discussion on the global rise of autocracies, effects on New Zealand and how citizens and societies can respond.
Organised by the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs (NZIIA) in collaboration with the Global Studies Programme at the University of Auckland. Featuring contributions by:
- Associate Professor Chris Ogden
- Associate Professor Timothy Kuhner
- Associate Professor Maria Armoudian
- Professor Jennifer Curtin
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This conversation occurred at the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs flagship conference in Wellington on June 2025. Climate change is one of the gravest threats to New Zealand’s security and prosperity, and ultimately our wellbeing. The New Zealand Government has three priorities in addressing this challenge, including climate diplomacy and international negotiations, supporting climate action and resilience in the Pacific region, and supporting a domestic transition at home.
But is what New Zealand and the global community doing sufficient? What more can be done to address and mitigate climate change internationally, while mitigating potential negative economic, social and environmental issues.
This expert group discusses such questions.
- Moderated by Esther Guy-Meakin, NZIIA Board
- Chlöe Swarbrick MP, Co-Leader of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
- Kate Wilson Butler, Chapman Tripp
- Kristy Harrison, Stantec
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This discussion occurred at the NZIIA flagship conference in Wellington in June 2025. The return of US President Donald Trump to the White House has created tumultuous news on a daily basis. The Administration’s approach to Ukraine, the Middle East, international trade, competition with China and reform of US Government institutions are creating shockwaves, and may have very long-lasting effects on the international system. The ‘reckons’ on where US foreign and trade policy are heading are everywhere. But how do we cut through all the noise to understand exactly where rhetoric differs from action? How are countries like New Zealand affected? And what should New Zealand and other countries and regions do to respond? This expert panel addresses these questions and more.
- Moderated by Emeritus Professor Roberto Rabel, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington
- Professor Lise Howard, Georgetown University
- Derek Grossman, RAND Corporation (virtual)
- Emily Mosley, Australian Institute of International Affairs
- Professor Alan Tidwell, Georgetown University
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This discussion occurred at the NZIIA flagship conference in Wellington in June 2025.
The New Zealand Government has unveiled a ‘Going for Growth’ strategy to enable economic growth, deliver more jobs and grow incomes. Central to the strategy are efforts to double exports by value in 10 years and increase foreign investment. Yet many nations are placing lesser priority on open economic relations with countries like New Zealand, as the world becomes more securitised, fragmented and unstable. Is New Zealand’s economic strategy aware enough of the global challenges? What more can be done to retain and grow New Zealand’s economic connections with the world as geopolitical storms rage? Will it be possible to keep a rules-based trading system? This expert panel discusses.
- Moderated by Rosalie Nelson, Chief Executive of Edmund Hillary Foundation / Hillary Institute
- Shamubeel Eaqub, Simplicity
- Professor Jason Mika, University of Auckland Waipapa Taumata Rau
- Juan Carlos Baker Pineda, Ansley Consultants
- Catherine Beard, BusinessNZ
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This discussion occurred at the NZIIA Conference in Wellington in June 2025.
For decades, New Zealand’s approach to international relations has been driven by a pursuit of multilateralism, collective security and free trade. Since the end of the Cold War, this has been enabled to some extent by the pre-eminence of US power. However, the international order and the institutions underpinning it, are changing. The rise of China and other Asian powers is altering international affairs in profound ways, sparking competition and instability. Erosion of democratic norms and authoritarianism is also making indelible marks on world affairs. Likewise, conflict in Ukraine, the Middle East and North Africa, Myanmar and elsewhere are inflicting damage and trauma, and challenging the rest of the world to act. This expert panel assesses where the international system is heading, and what liberal democracies like New Zealand can do in response.
- Moderated by Dr Serena Kelly, University of Canterbury
- Professor Caitlin Byrne, Griffith University
- Zichen Wang, Founder, Center For China and Globalization
- Professor Lise Howard, Georgetown University
- Abhishek Sharma, Observer Research Foundation
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At the NZIIA Annual Lecture 2025 on 6 May, held at the National Library of New Zealand, Hon Judith Collins KC, New Zealand Minister of Defence discussed the importance of New Zealand’s Defence Capability Plan announced on 7 April. The plan outlines investments to enhance the New Zealand Defence Force over the next 15 years, with a focus on the critical investments needed in the next four years.
The Minister is introduced by Dr James Kember, Chair of NZIIA.
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NZIIA event in Auckland New Zealand on 17 December 2024.
Industrial policy, including import substitution, has long been criticised by economists for excessive protectionism, which often led to inefficient and uncompetitive firms and stifled export growth. But pressures for protectionism in wealthy countries are growing, and developed countries themselves are now aggressively pursuing industrial policy as part of new economic statecraft. Will this new tilt to industrial policy work? By focusing on key international drivers and constraints, domestic state-society relations, and elite ideological commitments, this talk evaluates the prospects for the successful pursuit of industrial policy, and what it might mean for New Zealand and global trade.
Biography:
Vinod K. Aggarwal is Distinguished Professor and Alann P. Bedford Endowed Chair, Department of Political Science; Affiliated Professor, Haas School of Business; Director of the Berkeley Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Study Center (BASC); and Fellow in the Public Law and Policy Center, Berkeley Law School, all at the University of California, Berkeley. He is Editor-in-Chief of the journal Business and Politics, and has published 23 books and over 140 articles and book chapters. His latest book is Great Power Competition and Middle Power Strategies (2023) and his book The Oxford Handbook of Geoeconomics and Economic Statecraft is in press. He received his B.A. from the University of Michigan and his M.A. and Ph.D. from Stanford University.
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On 14 November 2024 NZIIA's National Office hosted an expert panel discussion on how geostrategic competition is affecting the Pacific region and how New Zealand, Pacific countries and regional institutions can respond to this. The discussion included suggestions on how Aotearoa New Zealand can better engage with the Pacific.
The event features a summary of the report’s findings from Guy Fiti Sinclair and a moderated discussion with some of the foremost experts in international politics in the Pacific:
Esala Nayasi, Deputy Secretary-General, Pacific Islands Forum
Dr. Guy Fiti Sinclair, Rapporteur and Associate Professor at Auckland Law School, The University of Auckland
Anna Powles, Associate Professor at Centre for Defence & Security Studies, Massey University
and Dr Iati Iati, Senior Lecturer at Victoria University of Wellington
moderated by Caren Rangi, ONZM, FCA.
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Hosted by the Australian Institute of International Affairs and the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs on 5 December 2024.
It is difficult to think of two countries more closely aligned than Australia and New Zealand. Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade describes the neighbours as 'natural allies with a strong trans-Tasman sense of family' and New Zealand's Ministry of Defence says that New Zealand has 'no better friend and no closer ally'.
But the perceived and practical closeness of Australia and New Zealand also means that their alliance is so taken-for-granted that it is seldom analysed. In the November special issue of the Australian Journal of International Affairs scholars from both sides of the Tasman address this gap by examining the current state of the alliance and identifying issues likely to test it in the future.
The event brought together Anna Powles and Joanne Wallis, the guest editors of the special issue, for a stocktake of the current state of the Australia-New Zealand alliance. They were joined by contributors Darren Lim and Jason Young, who will focus on the allies' differing relationships with China and consider what that means for the future of their relationship. The discussion was chaired by David Capie.
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NZIIA Event held in Wellington on 7 August 2024.
In essence, Australia’s commitment to AUKUS is a vote to help preserve Asia’s US-led unipolar strategic order. But what are the alternatives? What kinds of new regional order might emerge to take the old order’s place if it cannot be preserved? And how would we fare in them?
Professor Hugh White’s presentation explores these questions, looking at the global context as shaped by the war in Ukraine and the alignment between China and Russia. It asks if the global Rules Based Order fails, what will take its place – authoritarian hegemony or politically diverse multipolarity? And what would it mean for Asia, and more particularly for Australia and New Zealand?
Professor White’s address is followed by additional expert discussion from John McKinnon, Chair of the New Zealand-China Council and Senior Fellow at the Centre for Strategic Studies at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington.
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Prof Harsh V Pant, Vice President, Studies and Foreign Policy, Observer Research Foundation talk focused on Modi 3.0 and India's Global Outreach, touching on its implications for the Indo-Pacific.
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Recent international tensions have brought the twentieth-century Cold War battle of ideas back into the public consciousness, including via films such as Oppenheimer. But the Cold War was not only fought by militaries, politicians and scientists. Behind the scenes, a group of economists clashed over economic theory and ideologies, with far-reaching real-world effects up until the present day, including in New Zealand.
This topic was discussed by Alan Bollard, who has published a new book Economists in the Cold War, by Oxford University Press. Dr Bollard’s talk was discussed by Dr Malcolm McKinnon, adjunct associate professor at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington.
Held at Craigs Investments Partners in Wellington on 4 October 2023. This event launches the 'International History Series', jointly run by the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs and Centre for Strategic Studies at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington.
About Dr Alan Bollard
Dr Alan Bollard is a Professor of Practice at the School of Government, Wellington School of Business and Government, and inaugural holder of the Chair for Pacific Region Business. The Chair is intended to help the Business School focus on Asia-Pacific economies.
In addition, he is Chair of the newly-formed Infrastructure Commission, Chair of the cross-university Centres for Asia-Pacific Excellence, and Chair of the New Zealand Portrait Gallery. He is NZ Governor of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia.
From 2012 - 2018 Alan was the Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat based in Singapore, the world’s largest regional body that promotes trade, investment and sustainable economic growth in the Asia-Pacific.
Prior to joining APEC, Dr Bollard was the Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand from 2002 to 2012. In that position, he was responsible for monetary policy and bank regulations, helping steer New Zealand through the global financial crisis.
From 1998 to 2002, Dr Bollard was the Secretary to the New Zealand Treasury. As the government’s principal economic adviser, he managed the Crown’s finances and helped guide economic policy. He has served as New Zealand’s Alternate Governor to the International Monetary Fund, the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.
From 1994 – 2008, he was the Chairman of the New Zealand Commerce Commission. Prior to this from 1987 to 1994 he was Director of the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research. He has a PhD in Economics from the University of Auckland.
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On 17 August HE Ms Harinder Sidhu, Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand, presented to the NZIIA Christchurch Branch on 'A Roadmap for the future: Taking the Trans-Tasman relationship forward.'
About HE Ms Harinder Sidhu
Ms Sidhu was appointed as Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand on 31 March 2022.
Ms Sidhu is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and was most recently Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Secretary. She has previously served overseas as Australia’s High Commissioner to India and in Moscow and Damascus.
In Canberra, she has served in DFAT in senior leadership roles, as well as in the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Office of National Assessments and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Ms Sidhu holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Sydney.
On 25 July 2023 in Wellington, David McAlister MEP will deliver an address on trade, development, and security in the Pacific.
In this episode of the NZIIA Podcast, Lachie and Tejas are joined by guest speaker Marçal Sanmartí, who in his second appearance with us discusses the what and why of Space Command. We explore New Zealand’s position in the geopolitics of space, and what we can and should do to best operate in this domain. The militarisation of space, the risks of space junk, and environmental concerns of rocket launches down here on Earth are just some of the topics covered in this discussion.
On this episode of NZIIA Youth Panel, we discuss briefly some of the impacts of climate change including but not limited to both international and domestic obligations of NZ, as well as some of the environmental impacts, in particular, the most at-risk communities with our guest Ri Theodore, Youth Climate Activist. Does something brief like this work or is there a need for something more detailed
In this episode of the NZIIA podcast, Tanis, Lachie and Patrick are joined by guest speaker Professor Rob Rabel from Poland about the ongoing war in Ukraine, how those close to the conflict are reacting and why Putin continues to attempt to legitimize his position. We will also explore how New Zealand's position in this conflict has changed and why it is important to us at home.
In this episode of the NZIIA podcast, Tanis and Lachie examine the current political, economic, and military situation in Ukraine. We will discuss what Russia desires, its military success and failures, and how the international community has reacted to a new war in Europe. We will also explore New Zealand's position in this conflict as well as how, and why, it is important to us at home.
On this episode of the NZIIA podcast, Alex and Tanis chat with Marçal Sanmartí, a member of the Planetary Society and a Research Assistant for the New Zealand International Review. We explore the fast-paced and Science Fiction-like world of Astropolitics, the politics of space in international relations. From what Astropolitics means for international relations, to the flourishing NZ Space Sector, International Space treaties, as well as Space warfare and security, are all explored.
On this episode of the NZIIA podcast, Alex, Patrick, and Tanis discuss Afghanistan. From breaking down Afghanistan’s long history of conflict and intervention to failed attempts to restore stability and peace, to the terror attacks of 9/11 and their decades-long consequences. What the future holds for Afghanistan, its people, and the wider world are also explored beyond the financial and human cost normally associated with this complicated topic of international relations.
On this episode of the NZIIA podcast, the Governor-General the Rt Hon Dame Patsy Reddy speaks to the NZIIA about the international dimensions to her role in this audio of the event. As the outgoing Governor-General, Dame Patsy reflects on her role in promoting NZ international relations, both within NZ and overseas (22/06/21).
To find out more about the NZIIA and the events we run check out our website at https://www.nziia.org.nz/
Produced by Francesca Georgia Pietkiewicz
In this episode of the NZIIA podcast, Alex and Jordan from Victoria University Law School talk to Vinod Bal, an international law researcher who has worked in Vietnam and Berlin and has completed his dissertation at the University of Waikato. We discuss recent issues in international law, including the developing area of climate change law, and share some perhaps cynical views. Vinod then talks about his ground-breaking dissertation on the extent to which international law protects transgender and non-binary persons from discrimination (despite some unusual wording in the Rome Statute.
Produced by Francesca Georgia Pietkiewicz
On this episode of the NZIIA podcast, Alex and Patrick chat to Jackson Calder, a recent graduate from Victoria University who has started his own geopolitical risk and futures modelling firm.
We discuss the current transition from university to the IR space, the importance of understanding risk and futuring tools for policy, and why we should all be futurists.
Produced by Francesca Georgia Pietkiewicz
In this episode of the NZIIA Podcast, Alex and Lachie talk to James and Helen of the newly establishing wargaming society. We discuss the background and conception of the wargaming society, what wargaming is, its importance in understanding international relations as well as its application to other fields.
Find out more about the wargaming society on their Facebook page and website, links on our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/nziiayp/
Produced by Francesca Georgia Pietkiewicz
In the first episode of the NZIIA podcast, we tackle COVID-19.
Through looking at the overall numbers, breaking down the situation in India, and NZ's plan to roll out vaccines in 2021, the NZIIA Youth Panel shares their thoughts and insights on one of the biggest international relations topics in decades.
Brought to you by The NZIIA Youth Panel.
Produced by Francesca Georgia Pietkiewicz