Ian Axford Fellowships seminar: Bruce Vaughn – The United States and New Zealand: Perspectives on a Pacific Partnership

Fulbright New Zealand, IPANZ and the Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowships in Public Policy Board invite you to the fourth in a series of public seminars by this year’s six Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellows in Public Policy.

About the Author

Bruce Vaughn, 2012 Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellow in Public Policy

Bruce Vaughn is a Specialist in Asian Affairs at the Congressional Research Service in Flint Hill, Virginia. During Bruce’s Ian Axford Fellowship exchange to New Zealand he has been based at the Ministry of Defence and Victoria University of Wellington, researching shared NZ-US interests in promoting stability in the South Pacific.

Abstract

This report examines recent developments in the bilateral United States-New Zealand relationship, with a particular focus on security and defence cooperation and recent activity in the South Pacific. The report’s focus on the bilateral relationship is set in the context of the United States rebalancing towards Asia and recent developments in New Zealand relations with the South Pacific and Asia. It also discusses related developments from the Wellington Declaration through to the Washington Declaration. The report pays particular attention to the role of values as well as interests in the developing partnership.

New Zealand-US Cooperation in the South Pacific can be viewed as an expression of what is happening in the wider relationship. US-New Zealand cooperation in the South Pacific addresses shared concerns while developing a cooperative approaches to regional affairs. New Zealand’s interest and involvement in the South Pacific makes that region a natural starting point for developing bilateral cooperation. This is particularly so given the renewed focus by the United States on the South Pacific as part of its larger rebalancing toward Asia. The report’s perspective also seeks to place this evolving New Zealand-United States Pacific partnership within the context of the larger geopolitical dynamics of the Asia Pacific region, including the rise of China.

Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowships in Public Policy seminars

Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowships in Public Policy are for outstanding mid-career professionals from the United States of America to research, travel and gain practical experience in public policy in New Zealand for seven months, during which time they are hosted at relevant government agencies in Wellington and work towards publishing a policy report. Their reports are launched at a series of seminars, and are subsequently available to download from the Fulbright New Zealand website.

There are six Ian Axford Fellowship seminars in 2012:

• Monday 20 August:
  Caroline Park – More with Less: Exploring Service Delivery Models for New Zealand Marine Fisheries;
• Tuesday 21 August:
  David Vannier – Primary and Secondary School Science Education in New Zealand (Aotearoa) – Policies and Practices for a Better Future;
• Wednesday 22 August:
  Cornelia Weiss – Respecting Human Rights and the Rule of Law: The New Zealand Defence Force;
• Friday 24 August:
  Bruce Vaughn – The United States and New Zealand: Perspectives on a Pacific Partnership;
• Monday 27 August:
  Craig Lebamoff – If You Trust Us, You Trust Us. New Zealand in the Post 9/11 World: Balancing Security and Privacy Rights the Kiwi Way
  We regret that due to unforeseen circumstances this seminar has been cancelled;
• Wednesday 29 August:
  Christian Stearns – Rebuilding Sustainable Communities: Partnerships for Social Housing.

The seminars are jointly presented by Fulbright New Zealand and IPANZ. Tea and coffee will be provided.

IPANZ members register at www.ipanz.org.nz, non-members by email to [email protected]