Since starting my blog I have invited a number of colleagues to make contributions to highlight the range of work undertaken by the wider team at the High Commission in Ottawa and by colleagues who work with us on New Zealand issues, but are based elsewhere i.e Vancouver, Toronto and Washington.
I have invited Taryn Neil,

It was my Australian colleague’s turn to take the primary hosting role for ANZAC Day here in Ottawa.  This was Louise Hand’s first ANZAC Day in Canada and in the spirit of what the day means for both of our countries, she did us proud.  It was a wonderful address, reflective of the history, the

Skifield at Canada Olympic Park and site of Skyline Enterprises luge

 
For my New Zealand readers this title may seem a little curious.  It is a play on terminology used in Canada with regard to Federal Policy (i.e. determined by central government in Ottawa) whereby the wealthier, or “have” provinces, contribute fiscally to the “have not”

Climate Change as a result of global warming is having a range of impacts around the globe: more regular and high intensity weather events appear to be one.  In the northern reaches of Canada and the Arctic and Antarctic more generally, the thinning of the polar ice is proceeding apace.  I had my own slightly

I was in Toronto for a day last week.
I started out with a breakfast presentation to the Toronto Chapter of KEA (Kiwi Expats Abroad).  While I gave the group an overall outline of the work of the High Commission, my main focus was the collaborative effort of my office with our Consulate based in Vancouver

Last week we were fortunate enough to have as a visitor to Ottawa, New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy, Alistair Polson. 
Alistair is one of a number of farmers who have held the title and brings to it experience as an award-winning sheep and beef farmer, as well as a veteran industry representative and entrepreneur.  I attended a

I am cross accredited to Jamaica, and as part of their diplomatic week I visited the capital Kingston for three days last week to meet Ministers in the newly elected government of Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller.
Early in the week the Prime Minister addressed both resident (stationed in Kingston) and non-resident Ambassadors. The Prime Minister outlined

Last week, together with the new Australian High Commissioner, Louise Hand, I called on Canada’s National Research Council (NRC) to discuss the joint Australia-New Zealand bid to host the Square Kilometre Array.
What on earth is that, you may ask?
For those of you, who, like me, aren’t scientists, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) is the name

In the lead up to Christmas I left Ottawa and was back in New Zealand for 10 days.  I visited Taranaki to see family, Wellington to see friends and go into head office, Palmerston North for a small University Reunion dinner.  It was all good, despite the fact that I managed to coincide most of

I was in Halifax, Nova Scotia a couple of weekends ago to attend the Third Halifax International Security Forum.
I had heard good things about the previous two, and that, along with fora like the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore and the Berlin Security Conference, Halifax was becoming one of those “must attend” events for those wanting