Treaties and International Law

Speeches and Events

The Ministry participates in a wide range of legal meetings and conferences. It also assists with the annual meetings of the Australian and New Zealand Society of International Law (ANZSIL) and the Pacific Islands Law Officers Network (PILON), both of which discuss international and trans-national legal issues:

• ANZSIL was established in 1992, with the aim of providing a forum for the discussion of research and practice in international law and increasing public awareness of international law in New Zealand and Australia. Its principal activity is the organisation of an annual conference devoted to reviewing current topics in the field and bringing together government officials, practitioners, academics and students from New Zealand, Australia and the wider Pacific region, where possible. The conference is a major international law event hosted alternately by Australia (two years in every three) and New Zealand (every third year). Membership of ANZSIL and participation in the annual conference is open to all those who are interested, subject to the payment of the applicable fees.
• PILON (formerly PILOM) was established in 1982 as a way of bringing together government officials with legal responsibilities from across the Pacific region to exchange views and experiences and to discuss ways of improving the administration of justice in the region. PILON provides a forum for consultations on trans-national legal issues as well as matters impacting on the responsibilities of law officers in their respective jurisdictions. Utilising PILON contacts, the NZ Crown Law Office, with NZAID funding, organises a biennial Advocacy Skills Workshop to provide intensive skills development training in court-room advocacy for government lawyers from the region.

Upcoming Events

Beeby Colloquium on International Law 2012

This year’s Beeby Colloquium on International Law, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the NZ branch of the International Law Association, will be held on Friday 23 November in Wellington. The Colloquium will include several sessions on current issues in international law, as well as a public lunchtime seminar (topic and speaker to be confirmed).

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